Barcelona transfer news

Subterms

    More stories

    • 175 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      Barcelona chief CONFIRMS Antoine Griezmann has completed £17.5m Atletico Madrid transfer after season-long stand-off

      by

      BARCELONA sporting director Mateu Alemany has confirmed Antoine Griezmann’s move to Atletico Madrid has FINALLY been made permanent.The forward has been with Diego Simeone’s side since the start of last season after securing a two-year loan.
      Antoine Griezmann’s loan deal to Atletico Madrid has been made permanentCredit: Getty
      A bizarre clause meant Atletico would have to buy Griezmann permanently for £35million if he played 30 minutes or more in over half their matches.
      To get around it, Atletico have often sent the 31-year-old on as a sub after the hour mark.
      Then reports emerged last week that Barcelona had accepted a fee of £17.5m – half the agreed figure – to put an end to the stand-off.
      And today Barca chief Alemany confirmed at a shareholders’ meeting that Griezmann is now an Atletico player for good.
      Read More In Football
      Although Barcelona have had to compromise in order for that to happen.
      Alemany claimed Barca will receive somewhere between £17.5m and £26m for Griezmann, dependent on bonuses, which is significantly less than the original £35m agreement.
      He said on Griezmann: “We have renegotiated the conditions with Atletico Madrid this week and we will receive between 20 and 30 million euros, depending on the bonuses.”
      He added: “It’s a massive, extraordinary deal for us because of Griezmann salary — and same for Coutinho.”
      Most read in Football
      HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
      It’s understood Griezmann was on around £300,000-a-week at Barcelona.
      The Frenchman has started just three out of 11 games in all competitions this season.
      But that number now looks likely to increase after his move was made permanent.
      Griezmann originally signed for Barcelona from Atletico in 2019 for a whopping £107m.
      He scored 35 goals in 102 games for the Catalan giants before being sent back to his former side after failing to live up to expectations. More

    • 200 Shares149 Views

      in Soccer

      Newcastle want Memphis Depay in ambitious January transfer after missing out on Barcelona star in summer

      by

      NEWCASTLE are plotting a January transfer for Barcelona star Memphis Depay, according to reports.The Magpies tried to sign the striker in the summer but he decided to stay at the Nou Camp.
      Newcastle remain keen on Memphis DepayCredit: Getty
      Barca made it clear Depay was for sale and several clubs showed an interest including Manchester United, Tottenham and Juventus.
      So Newcastle may have to fight off interest from that trio to sign the Dutchman in January.
      It appears they intend to do so with Toon said to have retained their interest, according to Mundodeportivo.
      United launched an £8million bid for Depay in the summer which was rejected by Barcelona.
      READ MORE ON NEWCASTLE
      The Spanish giants wanted £17m and are also believed to have turned down a £14m approach from Spurs.
      But with Depay not part of Xavi’s plans having made just three appearances this term, Barca could reduce their valuation.

      That could allow Newcastle to swoop with the board said to be planning an ambitious window.
      Toon are said to be targeting six additions when the window re-opens having already spent £210m since the Saudis took over.
      Most read in Football
      HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
      The club are set to launch a third bid for in-form Leicester star James Maddison as well as Leeds winger Jack Harrison.
      Howe appears to be keen to add a wide player with Watford’s Joao Pedro and Shakhtar Donetsk star Mykhaylo Mudryk also linked.
      Summer target Moussa Diaby also remains on Newcastle’s shortlist. More

    • 213 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      Barcelona ‘agree to sell Antoine Griezmann to Atletico Madrid for £17.5m’.. just half of bizarre transfer clause

      by

      BARCELONA are reportedly set to sell Antoine Griezmann to Atletico Madrid for £17.5million – just HALF of the strange transfer clause agreed between the two clubs.The French forward, 31, returned to Atletico for a second spell last season as he secured a two-year loan move.
      Griezmann is set to seal a permanent return to Atletico MadridCredit: Getty
      Within the finer details of the deal was a clause which stated Atletico would have to buy Griezmann permanently for £35m if he played 30 minutes or more in over half their matches.
      And as he played significantly more than that last season, Atletico have been trying to minimise his playing time so far this term to ensure they do not have to pay the fee.
      Griezmann has started just two of 10 matches for Diego Simeone’s side since the summer.
      He has frequently been brought on just after the 60th minute in a clear affront to the clause in the contract.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      According to Marca, the stand-off has forced Barcelona to come to a compromise.
      That is for Atletico to pay Barcelona half of the £35m fee to complete the Griezmann transfer.
      The World Cup winner scored 133 goals in 257 appearances during his first spell at Atletico.
      He then hit the back of the net 35 times in 102 games for Barcelona, but ultimately failed to live up to his £107m price tag.
      Most read in Football
      FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
      A subsequent return to the Spanish capital saw him score eight times last season.
      And despite starting just once for the club in September, he still won their Player of the Month award.
      He contributed a goal and an assist across all competitions, including a last-gasp Champions League winner over Porto.
      Manchester United and Juventus were both said to be interested in Griezmann, but Atletico now finally look set to complete a deal. More

    • 213 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      Lionel Messi ‘on verge of agreeing incredible Barcelona transfer return with PSG ace to join next July’

      by

      LIONEL Messi could make a stunning return to Barcelona next summer – at 36.Rumours of a move back to Catalonia for the South American star have grown in recent weeks with Messi already in the final year of his two-season deal at PSG.
      Paris Saint-Germain superstar Lionel Messi is set to rejoin BarcelonaCredit: AFP
      Lionel Messi left Barcelona last year for Paris Saint-Germain after 17 seasonsCredit: Getty
      Messi is understood to be committed until the end of this campaign, with PSG’s Qatari owners determined to keep him until after the World Cup and for the second half of the season.
      Barca coach and former team-mate Xavi fuelled the speculation as he refused to dismiss the concept, only stating: “Let’s see how it goes but this is not the time to talk about Leo.
      “We love him very much but we wouldn’t be doing him any favours to talk about it. We have to let him enjoy Paris now.”
      And now Argentine journalist Veronica Brunati, known to be close to the Messi family, has declared the superstar has decided to go back to the Nou Camp.
      Read More on Football
      She posted on Twitter: “On July 1, 2023, Lionel Messi will be a Barcelona player.”
      It would be a spectacular move for Messi, who won four Champions Leagues and 10 LaLiga crowns at the club before his move to France after Barca announced they could no longer afford his salary.
      Messi broke down in tears but agreed to move on a salary believed to be in the order of £700,000 per week with the French side.
      The Argentina international spent 17 scintillating years at Barcelona and won seven Ballon d’Or awards.
      Most read in Football
      HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
      The star forward amassed a staggering total of 672 goals and 303 assists in 778 appearances.
      This season, Messi has already registered seven goals and eight assists in 12 appearances across all competitions for PSG. More

    • 225 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      Arsenal star William Saliba was ‘lined up for Barcelona transfer in summer before club opted for Jules Kounde’

      by

      ARSENAL star William Saliba was lined up by Barcelona for a transfer over the summer. Saliba, 21, has hit the ground running since breaking into the Arsenal first team this season.
      William Saliba has been an integral part of Arsenal’s rise up the tableCredit: Getty
      However, speculation over the summer suggested the Frenchman may be allowed to leave due to Mikel Arteta previously snubbing him for involvement at Arsenal.
      Consequently, rumours suggested he may leave the Emirates in favour of a transfer back to previous loan club Marseille or even Barcelona.
      The latter were looking at Saliba as one option to bolster their defensive ranks, as reported by Fabrizio Romano.
      But upon beating Chelsea to Jules Kounde, the Spanish giants cooled their interest in the Arsenal man.
      READ MORE ON ARSENAL
      And as it has turned out, both clubs currently sit top of their respective divisions.
      Barca are level on points with reigning La Liga and Champions League holders Real Madrid, while Arsenal have a one-point gap to Man City after beating North London rivals Tottenham in the derby.
      More recently Saliba has been earmarked to sign a new contract at Arsenal.
      When asked if a contractual agreement could be struck, he said: “Yeah, we will see. They talk a little bit. We will see.”
      Most read in Football
      HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
      Saliba first arrived at Arsenal from Saint Etienne in 2019 for £27million.
      After his arrival he was shipped out on loan on three occasions to allow him to develop, capping it off by becoming the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year last season.
      Cesc Fabregas – who is a co-owner of Serie B side Como – also levelled high praise at Saliba, declaring he could be an Arsenal defender for the next 20 years. More

    • 238 Shares129 Views

      in Soccer

      Barcelona’s unrecognisable XI from last visit to Inter Milan three years ago, with NO players remaining in Xavi’s squad

      by

      BARCELONA travel to Inter Milan in a blockbuster Champions League clash on Tuesday night.The Catalan giants have kicked off their European campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Bayern Munich and a 5-1 win over Viktoria Plzen.
      Griezmann is still contracted to Barcelona but on loan at Atletico MadridCredit: AFP
      How Barcelona lined up the last time they faced Inter Milan at the San Siro
      Rakitic left Barcelona for Sevilla at the end of the 2019/20 campaignCredit: Reuters
      Inter have also lost to Bayern and beaten Plzen, so the clash at the San Siro promises to be a pivotal one when it comes to both sides’ Champions League hopes.
      It is three years since these two European giants faced off, with Barcelona going through a huge squad rejuvenation in that time.
      Despite their financial crisis, players have continued to move in and out of the Nou Camp at a frightening pace.
      And SunSport have identified that ALL 11 players who started away at Inter Milan in December 2019 are no longer at the club.
      READ MORE BARCELONA NEWS
      In goal was Brazilian keeper Neto – who is now plying his trade at Bournemouth.
      The back three consisted of Clement Lenglet, Samuel Umtiti and Jean-Clair Todibo.
      Todibo joined Nice last year, while Umtiti and Lenglet are out on loan at Lecce and Tottenham respectively.
      Left wingback Junior Firpo is now at Leeds, while right wingback Moussa Wague joined Croatian side Gorica in the summer.
      Most read in Champions League
      FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
      Ivan Rakitic is now at Sevilla after leaving Barcelona in 2020.
      Arturo Vidal and Carles Alena are also no longer with the Spanish giants following transfers to Flamengo and Getafe.
      Then up front, Barcelona played the pair of Antoine Griezmann and Carles Perez.
      Griezmann has since gone back to Atletico Madrid on loan, while Perez joined Celta Vigo, before being loaned to Jose Mourinho’s Roma.
      That Barcelona team did get the job done in 2019 as they beat Inter Milan 2-1 at the San Siro.
      In fact, Inter have not beaten Barca in any of their previous five meetings – a run which stretches back to the 2009/10 Champions League semi-finals.
      Read More on The Sun
      On that occasion, Inter won the first leg 3-1 before losing the return fixture 1-0 – a result which was enough to see them progress through to the final.
      The Italian giants then went on to beat Bayern Munich 2-0 in the final and lift the trophy for a third time. More

    • 213 Shares129 Views

      in Soccer

      Barcelona among clubs looking at Ilkay Gundogan transfer with Man City star yet to decide on future

      by

      BARCELONA are continuing their pursuit of Manchester City star Ilkay Gundogan, according to reports.Gundogan is yet to decide his future at City beyond next summer as his contract nears its expiry date.
      Ilkay Gundogan is wanted by a number of clubs including BarcelonaCredit: Getty
      Gundogan was in action during the Manchester derbyCredit: Getty
      And Barcelona are hoping to take full advantage of this by landing the German on a free transfer, as reported by Spanish publication Sport.
      However, Barca will not be alone in their efforts to sign him with a number of clubs lined up to make a move for the 31-year-old.
      Ex-Barcelona manager and current Man City boss Pep Guardiola has expressed his desire for Gundogan to stay at the Etihad.
      City are planning to open discussions with him following the World Cup.
      READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
      Gundogan is also a part of the City squad’s leadership group after Fernandinho left the club last season.
      But he is not the only man who Barcelona want from Man City.
      The Spanish giants are desperate to land Bernardo Silva, having failed in that endeavour during the last window.
      Reports have indicated City will offer him a new deal in order to ward off an £80million transfer.
      Most read in Football
      HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
      Both stars where in action during the Manchester derby, where team-mates Erling Haaland and Phil Foden both hit hat-tricks.
      The result sees City close the gap to league leaders Arsenal. More

    • 238 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Barcelona set to offload three top earners including Busquets in bid to slash massive £546m wage bill by £150m

      by

      SERGIO BUSQUETS will be among the casualties when Barcelona offload three of their highest earners.It comes as Barcelona move to re-establish financial stability within the club after a summer of turmoil.
      Sergio Busquets is set to leave Barcelona when his contract expiresCredit: Getty
      Gerard Pique, left, Busquets and Jordi Alba, right, are all set to leave the Camp Nou next summerCredit: Rex
      The midfield general is set to be joined on the chopping board by defenders Jordi Alba and Gerard Pique.
      According to Spanish publication Sport, Barcelona chiefs want to reduce the clubs wage bill by a further £150million.
      The current bill stands at a whopping £546m, with the target figure between £376m and £402m.
      The trio of Barca captains all have bumper deals at the club, but while Busquets remains an integral figure Alba and Pique have been pushed to the side.
      READ MORE ON BARCELONA
      The trio have over 1,700 appearances between them, and a massive haul of trophies to boot.
      However, with the new direction the club are pressing towards under Xavi’s tutelage, their days are now numbered.
      A summer spend of £145m was partially funded by the restructuring of the clubs debt and the sale of the clubs TV rights going forward.
      This movement of capital allowed the club to raise the funds to bring in a host of new stars, including Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde and Raphinha.
      Most read in Football
      HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
      While the loss of three popular veterans will be a big blow to the club and its fanbase, they could be appeased via the return of Lionel Messi.
      Barcelona’s economic vice-president revealed the Argentine’s return was economically viable, amid speculation surrounding the forwards future.
      SunSport exclusively revealed earlier this week Messi had no concrete offers currently on the table. More