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      Chelsea ready to hijack Barcelona’s transfer pursuit for Spain wonderkid with Catalan chiefs at loggerheads over deal

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      CHELSEA are ready to continue their recruitment strategy of snapping up young talent by entering the race for 18-year-old Real Valladolid right-back Ivan Fresneda.ESPN report the Blues are ready to rival Barcelona for the signature of the Spain under-19 international with Valladolid wanting between £6.3 and £8.5 million for the defender.
      Fresneda was a bright light in last season’s Valladolid side that got relegated from LaLigaCredit: Getty
      Barcelona had been favourites for Fresneda’s signature but manager Xavi appears to be at loggerheads with the board over the deal.
      Xavi favours bringing in an experienced top-level player in the position and wants the club to sign Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo.
      The Barca boss reportedly also favours a move for former Spurs defender Juan Foyth to help address the club’s shortcomings at right-back over a move for Fresneda.
      But new sporting director Deco wants Fresneda as he looks to build a Barcelona team for the future.
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      The discordance between sporting director and manager has opened the door for the likes of Chelsea, who see Fresneda as a player with a lot of potential.
      The Blues will reportedly pounce on a move for the Spaniard if the player is keen on a move.
      Portuguese clubs are also keen on a move for the now Spanish second division player with Porto, Benfica and Sporting CP all circling.
      Chelsea’s interest in Fresneda comes after captain and first choice right-back Reece James suffered yet another injury setback.
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      The England man missed the majority of last season with a knee injury and looks to be facing injury hell again after tweaking his hamstring against Liverpool last week.
      The club fear that James could be looking at months rather than weeks out of the team.
      Promising French defender Malo Gusto is expected to start at right-back in place of James during their trip to West Ham tomorrow. More

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      Premier League giants on transfer red alert as Ansu Fati ‘decides to LEAVE Barcelona’

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      ANSU FATI is set to spark a Premier League scramble after deciding to leave Barcelona.Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham have all been linked to making a move for the winger.
      Ansu Fati has decided to leave BarcelonaCredit: Getty
      And the Prem trio will be among clubs scrapping for the Spain international’s signature this summer.
      Fati, 20, burst onto the scene as a teenager three years ago, having been at Barcelona since he was nine.
      He is the youngest goal scorer in Champions League history, at the age of 17 years and 40 days.
      And he even inherited Lionel Messi’s iconic No 10 shirt with the Argentina legend left the club in 2021.
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      But Fati has slipped down the pecking order under boss Xavi.
      And Spanish publication AS report that the Guinea Bissau-born star now wants out.
      That represents a change of heart for Fati, who had been determined to earn his boss’ trust.
      But he was left on the bench for the disappointing 0-0 La Liga opener against Getafe.
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      And, to rub salt in the wound, he saw unknown kids Abde Ezzalzouli and Lamine Yamal come on ahead of him as Barca desperately hunted a winner.
      Fati was finally called on in the 79th minute, but failed to make an impact.
      And that appears to have been the final straw for Fati, as he looks to resurrect his career elsewhere.
      Atletico Madrid are reportedly also keen but have yet to contact Barcelona, meaning Prem sides can get a head start. More

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      Barcelona ‘launch joint loan transfer bid for TWO Man City stars’ just days before Premier League opener

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      BARCELONA have launched a joint loan bid for TWO Manchester City stars just days before the Premier League is about to kick off.Spanish outlet Sport report that Barcelona are “very interested” in acquiring both Bernardo Silva and Joao Cancelo ahead of their season opener against Getafe this Sunday.
      City do not want to lose Bernardo Silva this summerCredit: Getty
      But Cancelo could be attainable for BarcelonaCredit: Getty
      The Catalan club hold a long standing interest in both players.
      Barca pushed hard to sign Silva last season when it looked as though the midfielder would leave the Etihad.
      In Cancelo’s case, Barcelona tried to sign him in January after the full-back fell out with manager Pep Guardiola, but he ultimately joined Bayern Munich on loan.
      Barcelona are set for a cash injection once Ousmane Dembele’s transfer to PSG is completed and view the Manchester City players as an ideal way to reinvest the cash.
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      Both Cancelo and Silva have operated in Dembele’s vacant right-wing position in the past but it is likely that Silva would play in Barca’s midfield three and Cancelo would play his preferred role of right-back.
      The report says that Barcelona would include a mandatory buy clause of £60million at the end of Silva’s loan deal.
      Silva’s City contract is set to expire in the summer of 2025.
      Sport say that City while City are open to letting Cancelo leave the club, they are not interested in selling Silva, particularly having already lost Riyad Mahrez this summer.
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      City have been linked with Palace’s Michael Olise and Rennes’ Jeremy Doku as they look to replace Mahrez – but Silva has operated off the right-wing in the past and started there during Sunday’s Community shield defeat to Arsenal.
      Cancelo, though, is free to leave the club and has reportedly already agreed personal terms with Barca.
      City will look to bounce back from Sunday’s penalty shootout defeat against Arsenal when they kick off their Premier League campaign away at Burnley on Friday night. More

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      Atletico boss Simeone blasts ‘nobody is bigger than the club’ after Chelsea flop Felix flirts with Barcelona transfer

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      ATLETICO Madrid boss Diego Simeone has hit back at Joao Felix and insisted “nobody is bigger than the club”.It comes after Felix admitted his desire to join Barcelona, causing a commotion with his current employers.
      Diego Simeone says ‘nobody is bigger than the club’Credit: AP
      In an interview with AS, Simeone refused to answer questions about the 23-year-old’s future.
      The Argentine, 53, said: “The main focus is the team. It is normal that in the press the focus is on whether he stays or leaves.
      “I already said that there is no one more important than the club, with no exceptions. It’s impossible to be clearer than that.”
      Portuguese international Felix joined the 11-time La Liga champs for a record-breaking £103million in 2019.
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      He spent the second half of last season on loan at Chelsea, making 16 appearances and scoring four goals.
      During his time at Stamford Bridge, the striker suffered a three-match ban for a tackle on Fulham’s Kenny Tete.
      Although the striker has not played up to his price tag Simeone did not want to blast his style of play.
      He continued: “He has his playing characteristics, he has given his all, he has made an effort to work well with what he has, and what we demanded of him.
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      “I cannot have any complaints about his effort because he has given what he could give
      “He has extraordinary ability, we have talked about it a billion times. You see him and he has a good header, a good shot with the left, with the right, good spin, one on one…
      “Is there time [for Felix to succeed at Atletico]? It’s not up to me, ask him and his representative.”
      In an interview with transfer guru Fabrizio Romano a few weeks back Felix dropped where his dream destination to play would be.
      He said: “I’d love to play for Barca. Barcelona has always been my first choice and I’d love to join Barca. It was always my dream since I was a kid. If it happens, it will be a dream come true for me.”
      A deal with the Spanish giants is highly unlikely at the moment however with Barca still struggling financially.
      Joao Felix spent the second half of last season at Stamford BridgeCredit: Getty
      Felix has admitted his dream team is BarcelonaCredit: Getty More

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      Barcelona break club protocol lasting 45 years with release of new away kit.. with special nod to legendary ex-player

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      BARCELONA have broken 45 years of protocol by releasing a WHITE away kit for their 2023-24 season.The Catalan club typically stay clear of the colour scheme given its association with fierce rivals Real Madrid.
      Barcelona’s new white away kit… the same colour as rivals Real Madrid’s home shirtCredit: Instagram @fcbarcelona
      The red and blue bands on the sleeve of the shirt are a nod to Johan Cruyff’s armbandCredit: Instagram @fcbarcelona
      Johan Cruyff was the last Barcelona captain to wear a white kit… against Aston VillaCredit: Rex
      But there is a good reason behind this season’s white away strip.
      The kit is inspired by Barca legend Johan Cruyff, who captained the team the last time the team donned a white away kit.
      The shirt features a classic white design with red and blue stripes on the cuffs which mimic the captain’s armband Cruyff wore in the late 70s.
      The club wrote on their website: “Barcelona introduces their second kit for the 2023/24 season, which has an innovative design that pays tribute to the man who developed Barca’s playing style, Johan Cruyff.”
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      The statement continues: “This isn’t the first time Barca has used the colour for their kits. Players like Alcántara, Samitier, César and Kubala, among others, already wore a white jersey between the 1920s and 1970s.
      “When it comes to Cruyff – who developed a new brand of playing style for FC Barcelona – he also wore white on several occasions, like on 1 March 1978 during a UEFA Cup game against Aston Villa, when he captained and led the team.”
      Barcelona have resisted the urge to go back to their white away kit origins over the years – so as not to anger fans that believe it to be the colour of Real Madrid.
      Instead they have favoured yellow, orange, grey and blue away kits in recent seasons.
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      Barcelona announced the new kit with a tongue in cheek video on Twitter that featured President Joan Laporta opening a cardboard box with “It’s just a box” written on it.
      Laporta has a surprised reaction when he pulls the shirt out of it which likely reflects what many supporters felt when the club unveiled a kit in the colour of their rivals.
      But social media reaction to the kit was generally positive.
      One fan tweeted a picture of Cruyff in the 70s kit with a number of love heart emojis as caption – clearly appreciating the throwback vibe of the kit.
      Another fan replied: “Love it.”
      A third fan replied “We wear white better” – in reference to rivals Real Madrid.
      Barcelona will be hoping the kit is a good luck charm as they look to retain the LaLiga title and also return to Champions League action in the 2023-24 season. More

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      Jordi Alba completes Inter Miami transfer as Lionel Messi’s former team-mate becomes third ex-Barcelona star to join

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      JORDI ALBA has reunited with former Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi at Inter Miami.Alba has completed his move to David Beckham’s MLS club and becomes the third Barca star to move to Miami after Sergio Busquets.

      Jordi Alba is set to reunite with ex-Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi at Inter MiamiCredit: AFP
      Alba has signed a deal with Inter Miami until the end of next yearCredit: Rex
      Messi is expected to make his Inter Miami debut on Friday against Cruz AzulCredit: Reuters
      The American outfit confirmed the left-back’s arrival to the US on social media.
      The Spain international has put pen to paper on a contract that runs until next year.
      Inter Miami tweeted: “Oficial. Bienvenido [Welcome] @JordiAlba.
      “We have signed Spanish international defender Jordi Alba to a contract through the 2024 season.”
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      Alba spent nine years playing with Messi at Barcelona after his arrival from Valencia in 2012.
      The 34-year-old amassed a total of 27 goals and 99 assists in 459 appearances with the Blaugrana.
      The Spaniard also won six LaLiga titles, five Copa del Rey trophies and the 2015 Champions League with the Catalan giants.
      Alba’s expected debut date with Inter Miami is currently unknown after just joining Tata Martino’s side.
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      But Messi is expected to debut against Cruz Azul on Friday in the Leagues Cup.
      Tickets to watch the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s Inter Miami bow will cost anywhere from $350 (£272) to $2,000 (£1,555) on Ticketmaster.
      The Argentina captain put pen to paper on a deal with Inter Miami until 2025 after running down his contract with Paris Saint-Germain. More

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      Ilkay Gundogan’s stunning Wag forced to hobble onto pitch in protective boot and crutches as he’s unveiled for Barcelona

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      ILKAY GUNDOGAN’S wife Sara Arfaoui attended the Manchester City legend’s Barcelona unveiling in crutches.Gundogan left City in June shortly after captaining Pep Guardiola’s side to an historic Treble triumph.
      Ilkay Gundogan’s wife Sara Arfaoui attended his unveiling in crutches and a protective bootCredit: Reuters
      Sara is a model, actress and TV personality hosting reality showsCredit: Splash
      Gundogan joined Barcelona after leaving Manchester CityCredit: Reuters
      Gundogan rejected a one-year extension at City and left when his contract ran outCredit: AP
      The midfielder decided to move out of the Etihad once his contract expired as he rejected a one-year extension.
      The Germany international has instead put pen to paper on a two-year deal with the option of a further 12 months at the Catalan giants.
      The 32-year-old was unveiled by the Blaugrana earlier today at the Nou Camp.
      Gundogan was joined by his family but Sara entered the pitch in crutches.
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      The actress, model and TV personality also donned a black protective boot on her left foot.
      The reality show host wore a blue summer dress as she joined her husband on the grass.
      Sara’s injury is currently unknown but Gundogan will be hoping he won’t be following her onto the treatment room any time soon just after joining Barcelona.
      The ex-Borussia Dortmund star’s wife was born in 1995 in France, with her family later moving to Italy.
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      The couple met in 2021 and maintained a level of secrecy regarding their relationship.
      That was until they announced their engagement in December of that year.
      The pair then married at a registry office in Denmark before holding a lavish wedding for friends at Lake Como in Italy in May 2022.
      Gundogan and Sara welcomed the birth of their first child on March 16, 2023, which was the day after City’s Champions League win over RB Leipzig.
      Gundogan and Sara met in 2021 and maintained their relationship secretCredit: Alamy
      Sara and Gundogan announced their engagement in December of 2021Credit: Splash
      The couple married at a registry office in Denmark before holding a lavish weddingCredit: Splash More

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      Barcelona chief reveals club owe wages to Lionel Messi for another TWO YEARS even though club failed to re-recruit him

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      BARCELONA chief Joan Laporta has revealed the club still owe Lionel Messi TWO YEARS worth of payments relating to his final seasons at the club.The revelation comes amid a developing war of words between Messi and Barcelona, with both sides offering different accounts as to why a reunion never came to fruition.
      Messi is still owed money from Barcelona owing to his last two years at the clubCredit: Getty
      Messi said after joining Inter Miami that the reason a move back to Barcelona never materialised was down to his previous experience with the club and its financial issues.
      When Messi left Barcelona in 2021, the club was in a dire financial situation with a number of high-profile players being forced into taking pay cuts.
      There was even a suggestion that the likes of Gerard Pique and Lionel Messi would play for free to help ease the club’s financial situation.
      Messi said that similar issues were still present this summer and were ultimately the reason he did not return to the Nou Camp.
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      He said: “I really wanted [to join Barcelona], I was very excited to be able to return, but after having experienced what I experienced and the exit I had, I did not want to be in the same situation again.
      “I heard that they had to sell players or lower players’ salaries and the truth is that I didn’t want to go through that, nor take charge of obtaining something that had to do with all that.”
      In an interview with Catalan outlet La Vanguardia, Barca President Laporta confirmed that the financial issues that came between the club and Messi had not been completely ironed out – with Barcelona still owing Messi money.
      He said: “What is owed to him is the deferral of the salary bill that was agreed with the previous board and that produces pending payments that end in 2025.”
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      Laporta however denied that Barcelona would have faced a similar situation had they signed Messi this summer.
      He said: “We had an agreement with LaLiga that we would dedicate part of the resources we have to Messi. Within the feasibility plan It was contemplated.
      He then appeared to take a swipe at the Barca legend when he suggested Messi no longer wants to play in the pressurised environment of a top European league.
      Laporta continued: “We communicated [the proposal] to Jorge Messi. He told me that Leo had had a very difficult year in Paris and that he wanted less pressure. 
      “With our option, he would have continued to have pressure and I understood his decision. Good luck to him and we start preparing his super tribute.”
      Lionel Messi’s first game for Inter Miami is expected to be against Mexican side Cruz Azul on July 21 as part of the Leagues Cup – which sees MLS sides face off with teams from Liga MX.
      The David Beckham-owned franchise will need all the help Messi can give, with the club currently rock-bottom of the MLS.
      As part of Laporta’s interview with La Vanguardia, the Barca President also revealed that he expects Clement Lenglet to join Tottenham on a permanent deal this summer.
      He said: “I think Tottenham will reach an agreement for Lenglet. This almost never goes fast. It depends on the other party. For us, they are all cases that would have been solved yesterday”. More