Barcelona Archives | Footiehound

Barca in crisis ahead of UCL clash against Napoli

30Jul

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Barcelona, News

Barca in crisis ahead of UCL clash against Napoli

Barcelona lost the La Liga title to Real Madrid but still have the UEFA Champions League to fight for, although it remains to be seen if they can get far in the competition with how average they've been this season by their standards. The Catalan club is reportedly in crisis ahead of the UCL Round of 16-second leg clash against Serie A outfit Napoli. Barcelona have struggled this season but it came as a little surprise when Ernesto Valverde was replaced with Quique Setien. The decision hasn't paid many dividends thus far as the same problems persisted under the new manager. It can be recalled that Valverde had Barcelona topping the league before his dismissal. However, Setien couldn't replicate the feat for long and eventually lost the La Liga to perennial rivals Real Madrid. ...

Barca urged not to easily give in to Messi’s demands

22Jul

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Barcelona, News

Barca urged not to easily give in to Messi’s demands

In recent times, Lionel Messi has been very open about the need for a massive reconstruction in Barcelona due to the club's underperformance this season. Regardless of his status as the most influential figure at Camp Nou, the club have been advised not to easily give in to his demands as it could spell more doom for the Catalans in the future. Ranoveer Neogi of Everything Barca has noted that Messi requested that Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez should be signed. The club have an eye on the 22-year-old forward who hasn't been at his best since the start of the year, and there are fears that a move for him could end up as one of the club's recent transfer mistakes alongside the huge amount of money that will be spent. Neogi wrote: “Since the start of 2020, Martinez has scored j...

Griezmann is a caricature of himself at Barcelona

2Jul

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Barcelona, News

Griezmann is a caricature of himself at Barcelona

Former Real Sociedad boss Martin Lasarte has described Antoine Griezmann as a caricature of himself in a toxic environment that's now affecting him. The French forward has been on the bench in three of Barcelona's last four games including big games against the likes of Sevilla and Atletico Madrid. He was on the bench until the 90th minute against Atletico Madrid in the 2 all draw at Camp Nou on Tuesday with youngster Ansu Fati introduced ahead of him. Meanwhile, the Catalans will fall four points behind Real Madrid in the race for La Liga if Los Blancos beat Getafe on Thursday, amid reports that Setien has lost the backing of his players. READ: Klopp expects a four-team Premier League title race next season It was Martin Lasarte that handed Griezmann his professional debut...

Setien reveals plans for Messi and Suarez ahead of La Liga restart

10Jun

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Barcelona, News

Setien reveals plans for Messi and Suarez ahead of La Liga restart

Barcelona boss Quique Setien has disclosed his plans for the club's return to action on Saturday against Real Mallorca, as well as the careful approach that will be adopted in handing out playing time to Luis Suarez. Setien will likely start Suarez in the game but admitted that it would be careless to give the veteran an extended run. He added that Lionel Messi will be 100% ready by the time action begins. "Luis Suarez could play from the start, but I find it reckless to make him play the whole game," Setien said in a chat with Tot Costa, via Barca Blaugranes. READ: James Rodriguez offered to Man United in a cut-price deal It can be recalled that the Uruguayan forward underwent surgery on his right knee in January. Before the procedure, his last game was in the semi-finals of t...

Barcelona step up pursuit of Pjanic and Martinez

19May

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Barcelona, News

Barcelona step up pursuit of Pjanic and Martinez

According to reports by Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona are ready to step up their pursuit of Serie A stars, namely, Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez and Juventus' Miralem Pjanic The Blaugrana have been heavily linked with a move for Martinez in their bid to find a quality and like-for-like replacement for Luis Suarez. The Uruguay international is now 33 and in the twilight of his career. His injury worries are already a sign of how he has aged over the years and won't be able to offer the quality he could some years back. Although Martinez's consistency is nowhere near that of Suarez this season, having scored just 11 goals for Inter Milan in the ongoing campaign, his form has been good enough to convince the Barcelona hierarchy to go all out for him. READ: Rose –...

Tottenham not willing to sell Ndombele in the summer

11May

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Barcelona, Liverpool FC, News, Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham not willing to sell Ndombele in the summer

Tottenham Hotspur are not interested in selling Tanguy Ndombele this summer although he has been linked with a move away from the club after a difficult first season with the likes of Liverpool and Barcelona reportedly interested. Regardless, Spurs are not prepared to let him leave on loan or permanently when the summer transfer window reopens. The 23-year-old joined the North London outfit last summer for a club-record deal of £55million plus add-ons from Lyon. READ: La Liga return – Games to be played every day for a month The player has struggled to make a mark although Jose Mourinho remains committed to the player's development after being pictured in one-on-one training with the France international during the first few weeks of the coronavirus lockdown. Ndombele is keen t...

Messi hasn’t been good as he was under Guardiola, says Ten Hag

8May

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Barcelona, News

Messi hasn’t been good as he was under Guardiola, says Ten Hag

Ajax boss Erik ten Hag has claimed that Barcelona star Lionel Messi has not reached the same level since Pep Guardiola left the club in 2012. Guardiola became Barcelona manager in 2008 and led the team to major successes including 3 La Liga title wins, 2 Copa del Rey triumphs, and 2 UEFA Champions League triumphs. Lionel Messi was phenomenal in those seasons, winning the Ballon d'Or in four consecutive years between 2009 and 2012. Messi scored 50 goals in 37 La Liga games in Guardiola's final season in charge, precisely the 2011/12 season. Since his departure, the Catalans have won the UCL just once in eight seasons with Messi emerging victoriously in the Ballon d'Or awards just twice in that period. CHECK OUT FOOTBALL PREDICTIONS FOR 8TH MAY 2020 Ten Hag expressed the beli...

Bernardeschi does not want to leave Juve, says agent

5May

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Barcelona, Juventus, News

Bernardeschi does not want to leave Juve, says agent

The agent of Federico Bernardeschi has insisted that the player is happy at Juventus and doesn't want to leave Turin in the summer. The Italy international joined the Old Ladies from Fiorentina on a five-year-deal worth €40 million in 2017 but has struggled to carve a niche for himself in the team. Juventus are ready to explore exit options for the player as they were willing to let him go in the January transfer window. A reported agreement with Barcelona didn't materialize while AC Milan's part-exchange offer with Lucas Paqueta didn't work out either as Juve rejected the offer. Regardless, Milan could still return for Bernardeschi while Atletico Madrid have also been linked with him. Juventus are yet to receive any concrete offers for the player and his agent Beppe Bozzo ha...

Barca make breakthrough in chase for Martinez

5May

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Barcelona, News

Barca make breakthrough in chase for Martinez

According to a report from AS, Barcelona and Inter Milan ave agreed an outline for a deal that will see Lautaro Martinez move in the opposite direction. Barca are reportedly facing some financial challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic and can't match the player's £97m release clause. Barcelona are working on reducing the player's asking price by using some of their players as a makeweight for the deal. They have reportedly agreed to pay no less than €60m for the 22-year-old and Inter will receive two of their players. READ: Tips on how to win more in football betting in 2020 However, no players have been identified yet although likely candidates are Samuel Umtiti, Arturo Vidal, and Ivan Rakitic. The three players are free to leave Barcelona this summer. Martinez has been i...

Lautaro Martinez tells Inter he wants to join Barca

2May

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Barcelona, News

Lautaro Martinez tells Inter he wants to join Barca

Reports suggest that Lautaro Martinez has informed Inter Milan that he wants a move to Barcelona in the summer. The Argentine is Barcelona's number 1 target this summer but they are struggling to meet his £97 million release clause. Regardless, Martinez has told Inter that he's interested in the Barcelona move and will reject any new deal that will be offered him by the club. It appears his mind is made up. READ: Timo Werner rules out move to Bayern Munich A report by Mundo Deportivo has claimed that the Serie A giants are now prepared to accept a lesser fee in the region of £80m due to the financial implications of the coronavirus pandemic. Therefore, Barca are working on ways to offer a package worth the amount and are willing to offer a player plus cash deal for Lautaro Mar...