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      Barcelona ‘prioritise signing Man City outcast’ Joao Cancelo but will have to pay £17.5m loan transfer fee

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      BARCELONA have reportedly made Manchester City outcast Joao Cancelo their “priority signing” this summer.The defender, 28, joined German club Bayern Munich on loan for the rest of the season after falling out with Pep Guardiola.
      Barcelona have prioritised signing Joao Cancelo from Man CityCredit: Getty
      The pair were reportedly involved in a training ground bust-up after Cancelo found out he was dropped for the club’s FA Cup clash against Arsenal.
      This came as Guardiola tweaked his system after questioning his players’ hunger to win the Premier League again.
      With Cancelo’s and the City boss’ relationship becoming strained, the club took the bold decision to allow Cancelo to leave on loan.
      The Portuguese international started life at Bayern in impressive fashion and already has one goal and four assists from his eight appearances.
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      However, it has now emerged that the star is growing frustrated after being benched by the Bundesliga side’s boss Julian Nagelsmann.
      And it seems unlikely that Bayern will take up their option to buy him permanently for £60m.
      But he will still have another option regarding his future with Barcelona making him a priority signing, according to Spanish outlet SPORT.
      City are allegedly prepared to do business and would sanction another loan departure.
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      Although they are demanding a fee of at least £17.5m from Barcelona to borrow him.
      Nou Camp president Joan Laporta has already revealed that he will attempt to sign a new full-back over the summer.
      Veteran Sergi Roberto is the only recognised right-back in the current squad.
      City signed the player in a £60m deal three-and-a-half years ago from Juventus.
      Cancelo only signed a contract extension with City 12 months ago and is currently tied to the club until summer 2027. More

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      Thibaut Courtois reveals Eden Hazard’s sad reaction to missing out on opportunity to revive Real Madrid career

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      EDEN HAZARD’S head dropped after he returned from the World Cup to sit on the Real Madrid bench, keeper Thibaut Courtois has revealed.Hazard, 32, has not played a single minute of LaLiga or Champions League football since Belgium were knocked out in the group stage in Qatar three months ago.
      Thibaut Courtois, left, has spoken about team-mate Eden Hazard’s strugglesCredit: Getty
      He has now retired from international competition and had hoped to revive his Real Madrid career as he prepares to enter the final year of his contract.
      Hazard has contributed just seven goals and 11 assists during his four seasons in the Spanish capital.
      But any ideas he had of forcing his way back into Carlo Ancelotti’s team have been dashed in recent months.
      The ex-Chelsea man even failed to secure any game time in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Liverpool when they had wrapped it up 6-2 on aggregate.
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      Ancelotti made five changes towards the end of the game, but Hazard was not one of them.
      And Courtois has confirmed the lack of opportunities has had an impact on his former Belgian team-mate’s mental state.
      As reported by Marca, he said: “When Hazard returned from the World Cup, he trained very well and was waiting for an opportunity because the Brazilians were not there.
      “The opportunity did not come and he lowered his head a bit. He has never disrespected anyone.”
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      Real Madrid are expected to try and sell Hazard in the summer in a bid to avoid him leaving on a free in 2024.
      Earlier this week, he revealed he wants to stay at the Bernabeu despite no longer speaking to Ancelotti.
      Talking to Diario AS, he said: “I would like to stay. I’ve always said that. I hope to play and to show that I can still do it.
      “People have doubts, that’s normal, I understand. But for me, I’m still here next year. You never know, but a transfer is not in my plan.
      “There’s respect between Ancelotti and I. But I’m not going to say we talk to each other, because we don’t. But there will always be respect.
      “I have to have respect a guy like Ancelotti. For what he represents for football, and for what he’s done in his career.”
      However, Ancelotti attempted to quash talk of a fractured relationship with Hazard before their second leg against Liverpool.
      He said: “The relationship is not cold. He has been very honest, we don’t talk much and it’s the truth.
      “Many times it’s a matter of character, you feel better talking to one person than to another.
      “This is not the most important thing, for me it’s that even though we don’t talk much and he doesn’t play, he respects me. I value this a lot and I respect him in the same way.
      “If he doesn’t play a lot it’s because there’s a lot of competition. In his position there’s a player who is contributing a lot and it’s Vinicius.”
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      Premier League leaders Arsenal were linked with a move for Hazard in January.
      A move to Turkish giants Fenerbahce and Galatasaray was also mooted last summer. More

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      Barcelona unveil new home kit as part of their £237m Spotify partnership… but it will cost fans an unbelievable sum

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      BARCELONA are out of tune with their fans after announcing a new kit in their £237million partnership with Spotify will cost £350.The limited edition home shirt for Sunday’s El Clasico against Real Madrid features the logo of popular Catalan singer Rosalia.
      Barcelona supporters might want to sit in a dark room when they hear how much this limited-edition shirt will cost for the El Clasico this Sunday
      The new top marks the first anniversary of singer Rosalia’s third album
      Rosalia’s logo from her latest album Motomami is on the new Barca shirt
      And as part of Barca’s ongoing huge deal with digital music service Spotify, there’s even a highly-exclusive version available for £1746.25.
      At least that top will be signed by both starting teams in the men’s and women’s clashes with Real.
      Earlier this season, Spotify gave up their sponsor’s place on the shirt for the first Clasico, with Drake’s owl logo displayed on the kit instead.
      That emblem marked the Canadian singer becoming the first artist to reach 50BILLION streams of his songs on the platform. 
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      Now it’s the turn of 30-year-old Rosalia.
      The logo from her last studio album Motomami will adorn Barca’s shirt as Xavi’s men attempt to move TWELVE points clear of Real at the top of LaLiga with victory at the weekend.
      Barcelona revealed their new top in a quirky, murky promotional video.
      The costly kit was shown hanging up in a dark room with a butterfly fluttering around.
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      Barca punted the album name by posting: “Calling all MOTOCULERS – Gear up, Rosalia is on our team this #ElClásico. 19/03/2023.”
      The club explained: “Barça and Sportify have picked Rosalia because it is a year ago this month that her album Motomami was released, a record that has stretched the boundaries of contemporary music.”
      And certainly the new shirts will stretch the pockets of many supporters. More

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      Barcelona vs Real Madrid: Xavi’s side look to go TWELVE points clear of Los Blancos in huge title clash – TV, stream

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      BARCELONA host rivals Real Madrid in massive top-of-the-table clash in La Liga.Xavi’s side are currently nine points clear of Madrid in second, as Barca look for their first La Liga title since 2018/19.
      Karim Benzema player fights for the ball with Marcos Alonso and Ronald Araujo during the Copa Del Rey Semi Final first legCredit: AP
      The two Spanish giants recently faced off in the Copa Del Rey Semi-Final first leg.
      Barca won the game 1-0 courtesy of an Eder Militao own goal, giving them a narrow advantage for the return leg at the Camp Nou.
      Real Madrid have a busy week, with Liverpool coming to the Bernabeu on Wednesday night for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
      While Xavi’s side have a free week following their exit from the Europa League at the hands of Manchester United.
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      When is Barcelona vs Real Madrid?

      Barcelona vs Real Madrid will take place on Sunday, March 19.
      Kick off will be at 8pm UK time.
      Camp Nou will play host.

      What channel is Barcelona vs Real Madrid on?

      Barcelona vs Real Madrid will be shown live on Viaplay Sports 1.
      Coverage begins at 7:30pm UK time.
      Viaplay Sports 1 is available to add to your existing Sky, Virgin or Prime Video membership.

      How can I live stream Barcelona vs Real Madrid?

      If you are subscribed to Viaplay, you can stream all the action live from the Viaplay app, which is available to download for free onto your mobile or tablet.
      Non-subscribers can purchase a Viaplay monthly pass for £14.99, which will give you access to all sports, series and films available on Viaplay for one month.
      Alternatively, you can follow SunSport’s live blog to keep up to date with all the action from Camp Nou.

      What is the latest team news?
      Robert Lewandowski returned to the squad for Barca’s 1-0 away win against Athletic Club.
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      Gavi also returned to the XI after serving his suspension during the win against Valencia.
      Pedri could return from a hamstring injury in time for the El Classico, but the game will come too soon for winger Ousmane Dembele.
      Carlo Ancelotti will have left-back Ferland Mendy back after several weeks on the sideline.
      Madrid frontman Karmin Benzema sat out of the 3-1 win over Espanyol with an ankle injury.
      However, Ancelotti has assured fans that the Frenchman will be involved in the Champions League last-16 second-leg clash with Liverpool on Wednesday night.
      Meaning if the 35-year-old avoids injury against the Premier League giants, he should be fit and raring to go in the El Clasico.
      David Alaba will remain out with a hamstring injury that occurred during Real’s 5-2 Champions League last-16 first-leg win at Anfield.
      Odds

      Barcelona – 11/10
      Draw – 12/5
      Real Madrid – 12/5

      *Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes and are correct at the time of publication. More

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      ‘I called my agent… my story ended’ – The day Javier Mascherano knew he had to leave Barcelona

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      JAVIER MASCHERANO has revealed the day he knew that his Barcelona career was over and he had to leave. The Argentine arrived at the Nou Camp in 2010 following a three-year spell at Liverpool.
      Javier Mascherano spent eight years at Barcelona having joined from Liverpool.Credit: Getty – Contributor
      Mascherano won La Liga four times and the Champions League twice during his time at the club.Credit: Getty
      The midfielder made 203 appearances for the Catalan giants scoring once and won La Liga and the Champions League during his time at the club.
      Despite having a successful spell at Barcelona Mascherano knew when it was time to move on.
      Speaking to Spanish outlet Sport the 38-year-old recalled the moment he had to leave the club.
      He said: ” I saw Umtiti train the first day, I called my representative and I told him: “Walter, my story at Barça ended, here is someone who is from another level.”
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      He added: “I have made thousands of errors in my career but if I had something, it is that I have always been a teammate. In the last days of Luis Enrique I had lost my edge.”
      The former Liverpool man arrived knowing it would be tough to displace Sergio Busquets and had to re invent himself as a centre half to earn his place in the side.
      Mascherano admitted when he signed that he wasn’t a player for Pep Guardiola’s style.
      He said: “I was not a player for Pep’s style. That was the reality and I knew it.”
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      The midfielder eventually left Barcelona in 2018 to join Chinese side Hebei China Fortune where he spent a season.
      The Argentine returned to his homeland signing for Estudiantes where he made ten appearances before retiring.
      Mascherano made a total of 436 appearances in his career scoring two goals. More

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      Leeds on verge of signing Barcelona wonderkid dubbed ‘the next Riyad Mahrez’ in stunning transfer coup

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      LEEDS UNITED are on the verge of signing the “next Riyad Mahrez”, according to reports.Despite being perilously close to the bottom three, the Whites are seemingly already looking at targets for next season.
      Leeds United boss Javi Gracia is already reportedly making plans for next seasonCredit: Rex
      Leeds have reportedly agreed a four-year deal for Barcelona ac Ilias AkhomachCredit: GETTY
      And reports in Spain claim the Prem strugglers are closing in on Barcelona wonderkid Ilias Akhomach.
      That’s according to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, who claim the 18-year-old will leave the Nou Camp in the summer.
      They also claim Leeds are in advance negotiations to sign the winger – who has courted interest from another of other clubs.
      Leeds are reportedly set to pip AC Milan, Sevilla and Club Brugge to the signature of Akhomach, whose departure must be finalised this month.
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      Spanish outlet El Chiringuito claim Leeds have agreed a four-year deal with Akhomach – whose wizardry on the pitch has drawn comparisons to Manchester City ace Mahrez.
      Akhomach caught the eye of his suitors thanks to a string of solid displays for Barcelona’s second string, who he made 39 appearances for.
      And his displays earned him a call-up to the first team in the 2021-22 season, in which he made three appearances for the Catalan giants.
      He has, however, yet to feature for the first team this campaign.
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      It’s unknown if Leeds’ potential return to the Championship will affect their deal for Akhomach.
      Javi Gracia’s troops are currently a point away from safety in 19th place.
      Leeds will look to lift themselves out of the relegation zone on Saturday when they travel to Molineux to take on Wolves.
      They travel to the Black Country on the back of a 2-2 draw with Brighton. More

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      Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti warns star midfielder is ‘untouchable’ amid Man Utd and Arsenal transfer links

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      REAL MADRID boss Carlo Ancelotti has issued a hands-off warning to Manchester United and Arsenal regarding his “untouchable” midfielder.The LaLiga side are nine points behind rivals Barcelona in the title race but remain on course to successfully defend the Champions League.
      Man Utd and Arsenal have been linked with Eduardo CamavingaCredit: Alamy
      Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti insists that the midfielder is ‘untouchable’Credit: Reuters
      They welcome Liverpool to the Bernabeu on Wednesday holding a 5-2 advantage from the first-leg of their last-16 clash.
      However, this summer the club are preparing for major changes to their engine room with veterans Luka Modric and Toni Kroos both expected to depart and Jude Bellingham identified as their top transfer target.
      France international midfielder Eduardo Camavinga is another to have been linked with a move.
      Man United are reportedly willing to smash their club record to sign the 20-year-old, who joined Madrid in 2021 from Rennes for £26m.
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      Arsenal are another club believed to be keen on trying to bring the youngster to the Premier League this summer after initially wanting him on loan in January.
      But despite Camavinga not being a regular starter for Ancelotti, the Italian coach is adamant that his starlet is going nowhere.

      He said: “We will not let Camavinga leave, he’s untouchable — like Modric and Toni Kroos.
      “Camavinga is untouchable for us — also in the future I’m sure he will stay that way.
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      “He makes some mistakes but he plays such good games that everyone forgets about it.”
      Meanwhile, a fresh report is claiming that Madrid have submitted their first offer to Dortmund for Bellingham worth around £123m in an attempt to usurp their rivals.
      They claim that it is worth £88m up front with the rest of the package made up in incentives.
      It adds that Bellingham was initially set on a move to the Bernabeu but has since had his head turned by the potential packages available from the Premier League.
      But Madrid now believe that the “whole matter can be resolved in the next international break at the end of March” where the ace is set to be part of Gareth Southgate’s squad for the Euro 2024 qualifiers with Italy and Ukraine. More

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      Eden Hazard reveals he is no longer speaking with Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti after shock breakdown of relationship

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      EDEN HAZARD has revealed he is no longer speaking to Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti.The Belgian, 32, has endured a torturous time in Spain since arriving from Chelsea for £88.5million in 2019.
      Eden Hazard has revealed he does not speak to manager Carlo Ancelotti anymoreCredit: Getty
      Injuries and poor form have seen him play just 73 times across nearly four years.
      And, despite being fit and available in recent months, he has not played a single minute of LaLiga or Champions League football since the World Cup.
      Hazard’s frustrations are set to come to a head at the end of the season as he enters the final 12 months of his contract.
      But while his relationship with Ancelotti appears to have broken down, he insists he still as respect for the Italian head coach and would like to remain at the Bernabeu for one more year.
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      Speaking to Diario AS, he said: “I would like to stay. I’ve always said that. I hope to play and to show that I can still do it.
      “People have doubts, that’s normal, I understand. But for me, I’m still here next year. You never know, but a transfer is not in my plan.
      “There’s respect between Ancelotti and I. But I’m not going to say we talk to each other, because we don’t. But there will always be respect.
      “I have to have respect a guy like Ancelotti. For what he represents for football, and for what he’s done in his career.”
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      Hazard has contributed just seven goals and 11 assists during his four seasons in the Spanish capital.
      Real Madrid are expected to try and sell him in the summer in a bid to avoid him leaving on a free in 2024.
      The former Chelsea man, who retired from international football after the World Cup, has been linked with a return to the Premier League as Arsenal monitor his situation. More