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    Chelsea star Marc Cucurella admits Barcelona transfer return dream despite sealing £63m Blues move just FOUR MONTHS ago

    CHELSEA star Marc Cucurella has admitted he would love to play for Barcelona, despite only joining the Blues four months ago.Cucurella, 24, signed a six-year contract with Chelsea in the summer which saw Brighton receive £63million.
    Marc Cucurella revealed he wants to return to Barcelona one dayCredit: Getty
    Cucurella was a part of the club’s legendary academy set-upCredit: Getty
    In that time Chelsea have undergone some changes, including a managerial one which has seen Graham Potter reunite with Cucurella after replacing Thomas Tuchel.
    Despite this, Cucurella has not hit the ground running in his time at Chelsea and has struggled with hit-and-miss form for the club, though Potter has backed him to improve.
    This erratic form saw him miss out on a spot in the Spain squad for the World Cup.
    And while the Spaniard will be hoping to give his Chelsea career the jolt it needs when domestic football returns after the World Cup, he has spoken about his dream to one day return to boyhood club Barcelona.
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    Cucurella progressed through the club’s infamous La Masia academy but only managed one appearance in the senior team before leaving in search of more game opportunities.
    Speaking to Catalunya Radio, he said: “I didn’t get the chance to really play for Barcelona and I’ve always been gutted about that.
    “In the end, if I had the chance in future, I would value it. It would be very nice.”
    Cucurella has made 18 appearances this season, contributing two assists but is yet to net his first goal.
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    Since joining he has not been afforded the security of being played in a singular position, with his versatility coming back to haunt him in his struggles to embed at Stamford Bridge.
    The ex-Brighton defender has played as a centre-back in a back three, a left-back and a left wing-back. More

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    Chelsea transfer boost as ‘Barcelona WILL sell Memphis Depay for just £4m’ after Dutch star returns from World Cup 2022

    BARCELONA are willing to sell Chelsea target Memphis Depay for just £4million, according to reports.The Dutchman nearly departed the LaLiga side last summer, only for a transfer away to fall through.
    Memphis Depay was in action for the Dutch on MondayCredit: Rex
    He has since played just 131 minutes in all competitions, however, with Barca now eager to take whatever money they can for him in January.
    The Catalan giants are reportedly unhappy with how he handled a hamstring injury sustained in September.
    According to Spanish paper AS, Barcelona expected the issue to keep Depay sidelined for only four weeks.
    They add that Barca were fuming that six weeks later Depay remained “on leave” – asking to head back to Holland early ahead of the World Cup.
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    Depay’s injury woes have reportedly strengthened Barcelona’s desire to sell him – with a bid of just £4million claimed to be enough to secure his signature after the tournament.
    Chelsea have been linked with the former Manchester United attacker, as they aim to add firepower to Graham Potter’s attack.
    A switch would see Depay reunited with former Barcelona team-mate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – who made the same switch in August.
    Despite his injury troubles, Depay was named in Louis van Gaal’s 26-man Netherlands squad for the World Cup.
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    He was only deemed fit enough for the bench for his side’s opener, coming on with 28 minutes remaining in their 2-0 victory over Senegal on Monday.
    In Depay’s absence, Vincent Janssen and Steven Bergwijn started up top for the Dutch.
    Barca are hoping that a strong World Cup showing could help Depay regain some market value.
    His only goal this season came in a 3-0 victory over Elche back in September.
    Chelsea are desperate to improve offensively – sitting eighth in the Prem table having scored just 17 goals in 14 games – the lowest tally in the league’s top ten.
    Addressing his future on the eve of the tournament, Depay said: “I don’t know what will happen after the World Cup. The injury has been hard, but I’m already recovered and I’m enjoying the World Cup.
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    “We have a good team that can prove things. I don’t want to think about the past, I’m focused on the World Cup. I also don’t want to think beyond this competition. I don’t know what will happen after the World Cup.
    “I’m very happy to play again, very happy. It took me a long time to come back. It hasn’t been easy mentally, but I’ve worked hard to get there.” More

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    Barcelona ‘to sell Hector Bellerin after just SIX MONTHS with ex-Arsenal ace set for transfer away from boyhood club’

    BARCELONA are reportedly preparing to sell full-back Hector Bellerin after just SIX MONTHS at the Nou Camp.The 27-year-old joined the Catalan giants in the summer after seeing his Arsenal contract ripped up.
    Bellerin is set to be moved on by Barcelona in JanuaryCredit: AP
    But he has started just three games in all competitions as we head into the World Cup break.
    And according to AS, Barcelona are already keen to move him on in the January window.
    Xavi missed out on right-backs Cesar Azplicueta, Juan Foyth and Thomas Meunier ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.
    As a result, he eventually landed on agreeing a one-year deal for Bellerin as a low-cost solution.
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    However, his poor displays are set to see him booted out just six months after signing for his boyhood club.
    Bellerin made 239 appearances for Arsenal, winning the the FA Cup in 2015, 2017 and 2020.
    He has also received four caps for the Spain national team.
    Roma have been linked with a move for the Spaniard – who spent last season on loan at Real Betis.
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    Jose Mourinho’s men are keen to sell current right-back Rick Karsdorp.
    And if they are able to offload the Dutch defender then Bellerin is being looked at as an ideal replacement.
    They were previously monitoring Manchester United’s Diogo Dalot, but they gave up on him when he returned to the fold under Erik ten Hag. More

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    ‘I see myself at Barcelona for a long time… hopefully 10 YEARS’ – Frenkie de Jong deals Man Utd huge transfer blow

    BARCELONA star Frenkie de Jong has dealt Manchester United a major transfer blow after expressing how happy he is at the club. Man Utd were desperate to bring De Jong to Old Trafford in the summer but a move did not materialise.
    Frenkie De Jong has again tried to put to bed specualtion he will join Man UtdCredit: Getty
    The Dutchman was supposedly being forced out the club but he decided to stay at Barca and he has now said he sees his long-term future there.
    De Jong told De Telegraaf: “I am very happy in Barcelona. When I play it’s great and in terms of living here life is perfect.
    “I see myself at Barcelona for as long as possible. I personally hope for another eight or ten years.”
    The 25-year-old has fallen out of favour at Barcelona this season starting just two of their six Champions League group games but despite previous reports, he is not unhappy at manager Xavi.
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    De Jong said: “I never got the feeling that Xavi was against me. To the media he said that he was happy with me but that there’s also the financial part of the club.
    “I really don’t put the blame on Xavi.”
    This is not the first time De Jong has tried to shut down rumours about him leaving the Nou Camp.
    He had previously said: “I always wanted to stay at Barcelona and this is why I always remained calm in the summer.”
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    Reports suggest that Man Utd were hoping to go back in for De Jong in January and battle Chelsea for his signature but the player is maintaining his stance from the summer of not wanting to go.
    However, Barca could be forced into selling him due to their ongoing financial difficulties that even led to De Jong accepting a wage cut.
    If he does stay at the Catalan giants he could feature against Man Utd in the Europa League next year. More

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    Hector Bellerin voted Barcelona’s WORST transfer by fans following summer move from Arsenal

    HECTOR BELLERIN has been named Barcelona’s worst transfer by fans after his summer switch from Arsenal.The former Gunner moved to the La Liga giants on a free transfer after his contract in North London was terminated.
    Hector Bellerin has struggled to impress since joining BarcelonaCredit: AFP
    Bellerin signed a one-year deal at the Nou Camp, but the return to his boyhood club has not gone as successfully as he would have hoped for.
    Having only made five appearances for Barcelona, three of which were starts, he has failed to make the right-back spot his own.
    Since mid-September, Bellerin has only managed 20 minutes of playing time due to injury and has been on the bench for the club’s last four matches.
    To make matters worse for the defender, Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo asked fans to rate Barcelona’s summer business out of ten, a test that he has not done well in.
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    While former Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski scored an impressive 9.32 out of 10, Bellerin was only awarded a shocking 4.42 rating.
    Lewandowski was the clear favourite to get the highest approval rating as he has scored 18 goals in his first 19 appearances for the club.
    But other players such as Chelsea transfer target Jules Kounde scored an impressive 7.82.
    Bellerin is closer to former AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie who, after 13 appearances in all competitions and one goal, was rated at 5.38.
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    Bellerin was hopeful of extending his stay with the Blaugrana as he told Radio Catalunya earlier this month: “I want to sign a new deal as I want to stay here at Barca, I’m really happy.”
    But that might be an unfulfilled wish of the Spaniard, as there are already reports surfacing that Barcelona have decided not to renew his deal, according to AS. More

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    Shakira and Gerard Pique ‘agree to sell luxury mansion where they raised kids’ after singer and Barcelona star split

    SHAKIRA and Gerard Pique have reportedly agreed to sell the exclusive Barcelona mansion where they raised their two sons.The couple, who reached a child custody agreement last week under which the Colombian singer will move to Miami with Milan, nine, and Sasha, seven, are expected to put a price tag of between £10.5million and £12m on the property when it goes on the market.
    Shakira and Pique reached a custody agreement last weekCredit: Getty
    The house, on an exclusive gated residential estate in Esplugues de Llobregat around a half-hour drive from Barcelona city centre, boasts its own recording studio and gym.
    Outside the five-storey property, consisting of two basements and three floors above ground, has a paddle tennis court and mini-football pitch where retired footballer Pique played with his children.
    Pique, sent off as a substitute during his final game for Barcelona last week, is living at a penthouse apartment in Barcelona’s trendy Muntaner Street with his new girlfriend Clara Chia, 23.
    Shakira remains at the luxury former family home but is expected to leave early in the New Year as long as her father William Mebarak, who has been in hospital, is well enough to make the trip to the States.
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    She put pen to paper on the child custody deal with her ex after a marathon 12-hour meeting with their respective lawyers which ended in the early hours of last Tuesday morning.
    Later in the day Shakira, 45, and Pique, 35, confirmed in a joint statement: “We wish to communicate that we have signed an agreement that guarantees the welfare of our children and that will be ratified in court as part of a mere formal procedure.
    “Our sole objective is to provide them with the upmost security and protection, and we trust that their privacy will be respected.
    “We appreciate the interest shown and hope that the children can continue with their lives with the necessary privacy in a safe and calm environment.”
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    It was signed, “Shakira and Gerard.”
    The singer-songwriter is relocating to Florida with the couple’s two sons as part of the deal.
    Respected Catalan daily El Periodico, laying bare what it described as the “small print” of the couple’s accord, has claimed Pique will have his children 10 days a month from next year plus holiday time.
    It means he will have to divide his time between Spain and the States as he focuses on the extensive business interests he forged before his surprise retirement announcement ahead of his last home game against Almeria earlier this month.
    He is expected to start house hunting shortly so he can have a base in Florida.
    Shakira, who has relatives and several close friends in Miami owns a £14m mansion in the city she is said to have put up for sale in 2018 before removing it from the market a few months ago.
    Pique’s relationship with Barcelona-born beauty Clara emerged shortly after he and Shakira announced in May they had split after 11 years and two children together.
    She appeared to file poisoned darts at her ex in a new song she released last month called Monotonia, Monotony in English, with references to the “narcissism” and “cold as Christmas” attitude of a man she is breaking up with.
    In the video for the song a mystery man fans have claimed is a representation of Pique shoots a hole in Shakira’s heart as she stocks up with snacks during a late-night trip to the supermarket.
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    Although initial reports pointed to her leaving for Miami first thing next year, the health of Shakira’s dad has subsequently been identified as the key factor in the as-yet-undefined date of her decision to move with her children.
    She faces a tax fraud trial in Barcelona in coming months so will have to return if she emigrates before the case comes to court.
    Shakira’s stunning waterfront mansion in Miami Beach where she could relocateCredit: The Mega Agency
    The Colombian singer snapped up the palatial pad back in 2001Credit: The Mega Agency More

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    PSG to open Lionel Messi contract extension talks after World Cup as Barcelona eye up sensational transfer return

    PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN will reportedly open contract talks with star man Lionel Messi AFTER the World Cup with former club Barcelona eyeing a sensational reunion.The legendary Argentine, 35, is out of contract next summer and it is unclear whether he will stay at the Parc des Princes.
    PSG will open contract talks with Messi after the World CupCredit: AFP
    Messi appears to have finally settled in at PSG after a dismal first season, netting 12 times and assisting 14 across all competitions.
    Such form, as well as seemingly repairing their poor financial situation, has former club Barca purring over the thought of a reunion with Messi.
    Barca had to waive goodbye to their club legend in the summer of 2021 after being left financially paralysed and unable to renew his contract.
    MLS side Inter Miami are also said to be keen on trying to bring the 785-goal man to America.
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    However, according to Mundo Deportivo, PSG are keen to keep Messi and will look to extend his stay in the French capital.
    Talks will be opened AFTER the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which gets underway next weekend, as requested by the player himself.
    Argentina are among the favourites to win the tournament, which would add the final piece of silverware to Messi’s unmatchable trophy cabinet.
    PSG would like Messi to sign a two-year extension.
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    A return to Barca could be as equally attractive.
    Barca is “always” Messi’s home, according to club president Joan Laporta.
    Laporta reportedly said: “Messi’s return to Barca in 2023? Leo knows that Barcelona is always his home.” More

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    Gerard Pique SENT OFF in last ever Barcelona game without making it onto the pitch – as Lewandowski gets red for elbow

    GERARD PIQUE was sent off in his final Barcelona game… despite not even making it onto the pitch.The Spaniard penned an emotional farewell to Barcelona fans after announcing his retirement last week.
    Gerard Pique was seen remonstrating with the referee at half-timeCredit: Twitter
    Gerard Pique was sent off in his final game for BarcelonaCredit: Getty
    Robert Lewandowski was given his marching ordersCredit: Reuters
    But his time at the club has ended in controversy after he got sent off in the tunnel at half-time of Barcelona’s game against Osasuna.
    Pique, who was named among the substitutes, was furious with a decision to send off Robert Lewandowski during the first half and had a heated conversation with the ref which continued into the tunnel.
    He was then sent off for his remonstrating – denying him the chance to make his last ever Barcelona appearance.
    According to referee Jesus Gil Manzano’s report, Pique said: ”You are the referee who has most screwed Barcelona by some distance.
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    “You are a f***ing disgrace.”
    The match official has previously sent off Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez in his career.
    Team-mate Lewandowski was shown a red card after 31 minutes following a shocking elbow as he challenged for a header.
    The Pole was motoring forward to challenge Osasuna’s David Garcia in an aerial duel.
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    But amazingly, having already been yellow carded, Lewandowski kept his eyes on the player and not the ball as he leapt high into the air.
    He then received his marching orders just after the half hour mark.
    Barcelona went into the break a goal down thanks to Garcia’s 11th minute strike for Osasuna.
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    But despite being down to 10-men and not having Pique to call upon, Barcelona managed to win the game 2-1 thanks to goals from Pedri and Raphinha.
    Pique and Xavi were in tears as the former Manchester United star received an incredible ovation in his last ever game at the Nou Camp at the weekend.
    He played 85 minutes of the game and walked onto the pitch with his sons Milan and Sasha who were mascots for their dad’s big day. More