La Liga

XABI ALONSO has been lined up for a stunning move to Barcelona – a club his dad played for – in a huge blow to Liverpool. The Spaniard is currently top of the Camp Nou club’s ‘shortlist’ to replace Xavi Hernandez, who announced earlier this season he would be leaving the club this summer.  
Xabi Alonso’s father Miguel Alonso played for BarcelonaCredit: Getty
Barcelona are hoping Xabi Alonso’s childhood ties with them might tip the balance in their favourCredit: Getty
Barca are keen to get their paws on the red-hot Bayern Leverkusen manager and are hoping his childhood ties with them might tip the balance in their favour.  
Alonso’s father Miguel Alonso, known to some as Periko, played for Barcelona between 1982 and 1985. making 54 appearances.
A large portion of Alonso’s childhood was spent in Catalonia, first in Barcelona, and then in Sabadell where his father also played. 
If he were to be swayed, it would be a heavy blow to Real Madrid who reportedly want the 42-year-old to replace Carlo Ancelotti and work some of his magic at Bernabeu.
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They’ve also got their own claim to the Leverkusen manager, whose six seasons, 236 appearances and six major trophies at the club have made him a legend there. 
Alonso even went on to spend time as a youth coach in the Spanish capital, another reason for Real Madrid to hope they might soon hold the managerial ace. 
Liverpool however lead the hunt, despite Alonso’s childhood ties with Barca.
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He’s been tipped to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool after the Reds manager dropped the bombshell that he would be leaving the club at the end of the season. 
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Alonso is leading the betting at 4/5 with Jamie Carragher believing the Spaniard would be the ideal choice.
Unearthed video shows Xabi Alonso admitting Liverpool job is his DREAM after Jurgen Klopp quit
Carragher told Sky Sports: “You can’t get away from Xabi Alonso because he’s so respected at Liverpool already for what he did as a player – he’s a Champions League winner, held himself with real class, he’s a World Cup winner.
“Right now, the job he’s done at Bayer Leverkusen, he looks like the brightest young thing in European football. It certainly makes him the front-runner.”
But now Bayern Leverkusen have thrown a spanner in the works as their managing director has announced he doesn’t think Alonso will be going anywhere at all.
It’s no surprise the Leverkusen HQ are digging their fingernails in given the success Alonso’s had with them.
He took over in October 2022 when the club were in a relegation battle and has since led them to the very top of the Bundesliga. 
Now sitting five points clear at the top of the Bundesliga after a 3-0 victory to their biggest rivals Bayern Munich at the weekend.
Managing director Simon Rofles responded ‘I’m sure’ to a question asking whether Alonso would stay. 
He went on, saying: “The other thing is how comfortable he feels, the family, himself and that he knows what he has in the club. 
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“He also has a very good team, we will have a very good perspective next year and there is no change in the team.
“These are all points that, in addition to contracts, coaches like Xabi but also players who arouse interest from other clubs often keep us with us.” More

BARCELONA’S 3-3 draw with relegation-threatened Granada wasn’t the only embarrassing moment for the club in this week’s LaLiga action.The crisis-hit side looked to be heading towards a routine win over the 19th placed side when young star Lamine Yamal put them in front in the 14th minute.
The fans were celebrating Yamal’s openerCredit: ESPN via X formerly Twitter
Before one lost her footingCredit: ESPN via X formerly Twitter
And pulled her friends down with herCredit: ESPN via X formerly Twitter
The three were sent tumblingCredit: ESPN via X formerly Twitter
Before completely disappearing from viewCredit: ESPN via X formerly Twitter
The 16-year-old got on the end of a Joao Cancelo cross to volley home in front of an open goal.
And the breaking of the deadlock cued wild celebrations at the Olympic Stadium, where Barcelona are playing their football while the Nou Camp is renovated.
Unfortunately for three fans, though, their celebrations were one to forget.
Fans on X (formerly known as Twitter) couldn’t help but notice three fans take a tumble in the midst of the celebrations.
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One fan on the right, held her arms outstretched before losing her footing and pulling down her friend next to her.
The tumble caused a chain reaction, with the fan on the left of her also being dragged down in the chaos of the celebration.
The LaLiga TV feed then instantly cut to a shot of the Barcelona players to spare the blushes of the fans involved.
Fans on X reacted to the clip, with one saying: “This just happened in Lamine Yamal’s goal I’m crying.”
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Yamal opened the scoring for BarcelonaCredit: Rex
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Another wrote: “Hahahahhahahaha they really fell out of their chair.”
A third posted: “Context: They fell for it.”
Xavi announces he’s stepping down as Barcelona coach at the end of the season
While a fourth said: “She took them all with her.”
Granada were able to come away with a point from Barcelona’s temporary home, with Manchester United loanee Facundo Pellistri able to get his share of the goals.
The draw leaves Barcelona third in the league with their title defence dead in the water.
The Catalan club are 10 points off leaders Real Madrid, with head coach Xavi already announcing he will step down at the end of the season amid the pressures of being Barca boss. More

BARCELONA are set to make a series of high-profile players available for transfer this summer, according to reports.The cash-strapped LaLiga champions have made a series of short-term moves, including sanctioning the sale of Barca Studios, since Joan Laporta returned as club president in 2021.
Xavi is set to leave Barcelona at the end of the seasonCredit: Rex
Barca’s decisions have been made in a bid to keep the team fighting on all fronts, despite being in more than a £1bn worth of debt.
Splashy acquisitions in spite of their perilous financial situation included that of Robert Lewandowski in 2022.
The approach initially led to winning last season’s LaLiga title.
Their hopes of adding further silverware this term went up in smoke last month, however, as they crashed out of the Spanish Supercup and Copa del Rey.
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They have also fallen 11 points behind Real Madrid in the title race, with boss Xavi to depart at the end of the campaign.
According to The Athletic, Barca are set to have to slash their wage bill in the summer.
Spanish outlet Marca add that they will make their most promising young talent “untouchable”.
Barcelona are determined to keep the likes of Lamine Yamal, Gavi, Ronald Araujo, Pedri, Alejandro Balde, Ferran Torres and Pau Cubarsi.
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In addition to to this exciting crop, Barca are also likely to try to retain experienced heads Lewandowski, Ilkay Gundogan and Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
The rest of their squad are expected to be on the chopping block.
Xavi announces he’s stepping down as Barcelona coach at the end of the season
In particular, Jules Kounde and former Premier League duo Andreas Christensen and Raphinha are likely to be flogged.
Kounde, 25, joined Barcelona from Sevilla in 2022 after months of being strongly linked with Chelsea.
He has gone on to play 69 times for Xavi’s side, often at right-back rather than in the middle.
Christensen, 27, signed for Barca from the Blues that same summer and has two-and-a-half years left on his deal.
Raphinha, meanwhile, signed in a deal worth around £55m from Leeds.
The Brazilian, 27, has played 70 times for Barca – scoring 14 goals and laying on 19 assists.
He attracted interest from Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham prior to moving to Barcelona.
The Catalan giants’ sporting director Deco has already confirmed that his side won’t make any splashy signings this summer.
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He told local TV: “We will not do big signings next summer.
“We need a new manager who understands the situation of the club, who understands that we have a lot of youngsters that need to be improved and worked on, who understands we are growing as a team and that we won’t make top signings next summer.”
Raphinha and Andreas Christensen could both be sold this summerCredit: Getty
Jules Kounde was linked with Chelsea before joining BarcelonaCredit: Rex More