La Liga

JOAO FELIX delivered a spicy goal celebration after ending a dry spell in front of goal – by shushing his own team-mate.
A fantastic hit from 20 yards sealed Atletico Madrid’s 2-0 win at Villarreal on Sunday.

Joao Felix produced a cheeky shush celebration to his own bench on Sunday night

Despite the cool volley helping to deliver a vital three points in the LaLiga title race, Felix produced a somewhat fiery celebration.
Raising his finger to his lips, the 21-year-old shushed his own dugout and shouted towards them in Portuguese.
According to Spanish radio station Cadena Cope, Felix had reacted to pre-match taunts from team-mate Renan Lodi.
The Brazilian defender, one of the Felix’s best friends at the club, is said to have teased him over a recent lack of goals – with only two in 2021 ahead of the game.

Lodi posted a reply to the celebration on his Instagram, captioning a photograph of the moment: “Don’t get angry, you said it and you did it, we’re together brother.”
Atleti ended a poor spell of form, which included the Champions League defeat to Chelsea, by winning at Estadio de la Ceramica and going five points clear atop the table.

But £113million signing Felix has only just hit double figures for goals this season.
Nevertheless, Rojiblancos boss Diego Simeone lauded the attacker for his feisty reaction to scoring.

The Argentine remarked: “You’ll have to ask him.
“He scored a great goal. He came on and did well in the second-half.
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If players are rebellious, give them to me!
Diego Simeone

“I love it when players rebel, when they look to be strong. We need him to be, he’s an important player for us.
“I’ll ask him in the next training session. I love it when players show pride.
“How long had it been since Joao scored? If players are rebellious, give them to me!”
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REAL MADRID ‘jumped the limit’ when they signed David Beckham from Manchester United in 2003, the club’s former transfer supremo has admitted.
And the Spanish giants also had to ‘sell every player they could’ in order to balance the books as they added Becks to the already expensive Galacticos team.

Real Madrid jumped the financial limit to sign David Beckham from Man Utd in 2003Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Becks – who recently saluted Sun readers for raising £10million for military veterans – joined Real in the summer of 2003 for £25m with United and Sir Alex Ferguson keen to sell.
He was the most marketable footballer on the planet and Real were hell bent on compiling a team of Galacticos.
Beckham’s first season at the Bernabeu – 2003-04 – saw him line up with some of the biggest stars of the modern era.
His iconic new team-mates included Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Iker Casillas, Raul, Luis Figo, Esteban Cambiasso, Guti, Santiago Solari and Michel Salgado.

But all of those global superstars came at a price and the Spanish giants took drastic measures to make Beckham’s transfer financially viable.
Former Real player, manager and their sporting director in 2003 Jorge Valdano revealed it was a big risk signing Beckham as they attempted to start a ‘marketing revolution’.
In quotes run by Marca, Valdano said: “The plan was to make Real Madrid the most successful team, but also the richest.
“We began to sell every player we could, then to make things work we had to compensate that with academy products.

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Los Blancos signed Becks for £25mCredit: Reuters

Real’s 2003-04 team included the biggest stars in the worldCredit: AP:Associated Press

“We jumped the limit the day we signed Beckham, he unbalanced the relationship between football and marketing.
“That’s the problem with revolutions, the person who starts them often has no idea how they will end.”
Becks hit headlines last week for admitting he would love to sign Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at Inter Miami.
He also revealed Man Utd’s players love Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
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MIKEL ARTETA has been linked to the Barcelona job – and could bring a couple of Arsenal stars with him.
According to Catalan radio station RAC1, the Gunners boss is on Joan Laporta’s shortlist if he wins the upcoming club presidential election.

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Laporta, 58, will give Ronald Koeman the rest of the season before making a decision on his future.
Barcelona legend Xavi is thought to be the No1 alternative to the Dutchman.
But Arteta has been named on the shortlist if the job becomes available to other candidates.
The former midfielder began his career at the Nou Camp but never played for the first-team before signing for Paris Saint-Germain.

His relationship with Catalan icon Pep Guardiola, who he worked alongside at Manchester City for three years, could also entice the club.
Should Arteta make the jump, he may abandon Koeman’s move for Lyon star Memphis Depay.

Would Mikel Arteta fancy bringing Hector Bellerin to Barcelona?Credit: PA:Press Association

Perhaps Bukayo Saka would be a target if the coach left for SpainCredit: Getty Images – Getty
But the deal to take Eric Garcia from Manchester City is reportedly done and dusted.
The centre-back could line up alongside Hector Bellerin, another long-term target of the club.

Presidential frontrunner Laporta has reportedly reached an agreement to try and land the Barcelona academy product this summer.
It has also been claimed that Arteta, 38, has given his blessing to Bellerin’s exit at the end of the season.
Should the job fall to the Arsenal manager, he may choose to go back to the Emirates and bid for another of their star talents.
A move for Bukayo Saka would test both sides’ ambition as well as their precarious finances.
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Topping off the attack, presuming a new deal can be agreed with Lionel Messi, could be one of the Argentine’s big pals.
Sergio Aguero’s Manchester City contract runs out in the summer and a reunion with Arteta may be feasible.
SunSport reported earlier this year that Barcelona are keen on the 32-year-old, who has been told to earn his new City deal but tallies just two goals all season.
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CATALAN police have searched the offices of LaLiga giants Barcelona and arrested former president Josep Maria Bartomeu in a corruption investigation.
Last year, it was claimed that the club had paid a social media company to plant online criticism of key club figures in a scandal dubbed ‘Barcagate’.

Catalan police searched Barcelona’s offices on Monday morningCredit: AFP or licensors

Deputy chief of the Mossos criminal investigation division Marta Fernandez was pictured during the searchCredit: AFP or licensors

Lionel Messi, Pep Guardiola, Xavi and Gerard Pique were among those allegedly targeted by I3 Ventures in a three-year smear campaign.
These included attacks on Messi’s reluctance to sign a new contract at the Nou Camp while Pique was targeted following his project to revamp tennis’ Davis Cup.
Barcelona’s then-president Bartomeu denied the accusations last February.
But eight club members launched an official police complaint, prompting an investigation that has been ongoing for several months.

It is alleged that the approximate £170,000 fee I3 Ventures charged for each of six contracts were just below the threshold at which the club’s commission are required to sign off spending.
On Monday, police seized evidence and arrested four individuals, with further arrests not ruled out according to Catalan radio station Cadena SER.
Bartomeu was reportedly detained along with former advisor Jaume Masferrer – fired by the club in October for his role in the scandal – chief executive Oscar Grau, and legal head Roma Gomez Ponti.
Police were picture raiding the club offices, namely the legal, financial and compliance departments.

Josep Maria Bartomeu, club president at the time of the contracts being handed out, has reportedly been arrestedCredit: EPA

Barcelona’s offices were also raided by police on Monday morningCredit: Getty Images – Getty
A police spokesperson told AFP that ‘arrests were taking place’, before adding: “We are in the process of carrying out an operation right now with agents of the financial crimes unit.”
In a statement, Barcelona insisted they will collaborate with officials in their investigation.
Th club stated: “Before the entry and search by the Catalan Police force this morning at the Camp Nou offices under the instruction of the Instructing Court number 13 in Barcelona, which is in charge of the case relating to the contacting of monitoring services on social networks, FC Barcelona have offered up their full collaboration to the legal and police authorities to help make clear facts which are subject to investigation.
“The information and documentation requested by the judicial police force relate strictly to the facts relative to this case.
“FC Barcelona express its great respect for the judicial process in place and for the principle of presumed innocence for the people affected within the remit of this investigation.”
Documents relating to the case were also taken in a search conducted last July.

Police seized evidence for their investigation and confirmed four arrestsCredit: AP:Associated Press

Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique were among the stars said to have been targetedCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Official charges against those involved have not been ruled out, for unfair administration and corruption between individuals.
Once the claims emerged in early 2020, former chief Bartomeu admitted to hiring I3 Ventures for social media analysis but insisted the agreement had no link to criticism of Messi and Co.
Claims have also been made that Barcelona paid significantly above, around 600 per cent, the market rate for the service.
An external audit by PricewaterhouseCoopers was commissioned, which found no wrongdoing on the club’s behalf and the contracts were cancelled.
Speaking last year, star striker Messi confessed to finding the situation ‘strange’ while Pique slammed the club’s actions.
He said in October: “It’s a disgrace the club actually spent money to criticise us.
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Oscar Grau, appointed as the club’s chief executive in 2016, has also been arrestedCredit: EPA

The scandal dubbed ‘Barcagate’ has been investigated for monthsCredit: EPA

“It’s an atrocity as a Barcelona player to see my club spending money – money they’re now asking for from us – to criticise not just external people with a previous relationship to the club, but players still here.”
In a statement released by Barcelona last year, the club explained: “FC Barcelona roundly deny any relationship, and furthermore, the contracting of services linked to social media accounts that have broadcast negative or disparaging messages related to any person, entity or organisation that may be, or have been, related to the club.
“I3 Ventures, a service provider to the club, has no relationship with the accounts mentioned and, if any relationship was to come to light, the Club would immediately end their contractual agreement and bring about any necessary legal action to defend their interests.
“As such, FC Barcelona confirm that it has services contracted relating to the monitoring of social media with the aim of analysing both positive and negative messages about the organisation itself.”
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FORMER Arsenal star Gabriel Paulista was reduced to tears when asked about current side Valencia’s ‘f***ed up’ decline this season.
The tough tackling Brazilian left the Emirates in 2017, and went on to win the Copa del Rey with his new team two years later.

Gabriel struggled to fight back the tears

The Brazilian was asked about Valencia’s decline this season

But the Spanish side have fallen on tough times this season, amid financial troubles leading to a number of top stars being sold.
Yesterday’s 3-0 loss at Getafe saw Javi Gracia’s men slip to 14th in the LaLiga table – just five points above the relegation zone.
Gabriel, 30, fronted up after the game, but was left in tears after being asked about the proud club’s sharp fall into a relegation battle this season.
After initially trying to keep a straight face, he could eventually hold back the sobs no longer, showing his passion and disappointment at the team’s predicament as his face crumpled.

He said: “It’s a bummer hearing that.
“A club as big as Valencia and hearing that is a bummer.
“But we have to get out of this because we’re Valencia and the club deserves more.”
After concluding the interview, Gabriel stood pitchside with his head buried in his shirt.

Gabriel had just played in Valencia’s 3-0 defeat to GetafeCredit: Rex Features
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Valencia played Champions League football as recently as last season.
But with owner Peter Lim withdrawing his funding, the 2004 LaLiga winners were forced to cut costs by selling key players.
Star midfielder Dani Parejo and Arsenal old boy Francis Coquelin left for rivals Villarreal.
While young starlet Ferran Torres was sold to Manchester City.
Rodrigo, who scored the winner in the 2019 Copa del Rey win, departed for Leeds – while Geoffrey Kondogbia headed to Atletico Madrid to replace Thomas Partey.
Amid these sales, Gracia was handed no transfer budget to improve his squad, instead having to cobble together loan deals to patch up the considerable holes left behind.

Man City star Ferran Torres was among those sold by Valencia last seasonCredit: PA:Press Association
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BARCELONA boss Ronald Koeman was forced to interrupt his own press conference today, after suffering a nose bleed.
The Dutchman sat down to take questions ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Sevilla in LaLiga.

Ronald Koeman faced the press before being interrupted by a bloody noseCredit: Getty Images – Getty

But he was left cursing in Spanish as he exited to deal with a nose bleed.
This is the second time that such an incident has happened in a Koeman press conference.
Barcelona swiftly confirmed that their manager is fine.
And AS reporter Javi Miguel has revealed that the frequent nose bleeds are a symptom of blood thinners that Koeman must take following his heart operation last year.

The 57-year-old was rushed into hospital last May with heart trouble, where it was revealed that his coronary vein was blocked.
Koeman had to have a tube inserted in order to keep the blood vessel open, before making a full recovery.
The former Everton and Southampton boss agreed to become Barcelona boss three months later.
And things have been tricky for the club icon, amid unrest behind the scenes and with a presidential election looming that could significantly shape the future of the club.

Koeman, 57, has overseen a difficult season at BarcelonaCredit: Splash News
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Asked today if he’d be voting, however, Koeman revealed that he’d be leaving it to the club’s ‘socios’ (members).
He said: “The elections? I will not vote because I think I don’t have to vote.
“I have to wait, and the socios will decide.”
Going into tomorrow’s match, Barca sit third in the LaLiga table, having clawed back the gap to leaders Atletico to just five points.
They are on the brink of Champions League elimination, however, having been thumped 4-1 by Paris Saint-Germain last week.
And they were previously knocked out of the Copa del Rey by tomorrow’s opponents Sevilla, with their season now seemingly hanging on league performance.
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