La Liga

NOU beginnings mean no more old gold for Barcelona as they confirmed tearful Luis Suarez is joining Atletico Madrid – leaving Lionel Messi as the last MSN survivor.
After football’s most famous ever front three lost Neymar to PSG in 2017, 33-year-old Suarez has been forced out for a cut-price £5.5million.

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Ex-Liverpool hero Luiz Suarez could not hide his feelings as he departed the Nou Camp after six years Credit: Reuters

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Luis Suarez was clearly upset as he arrived and left Barcelona training for the last time before joining LaLiga rivals Atletico MadridCredit: Reuters

The LaLiga giants said in a statement: “FC Barcelona would like to publicly express their gratitude to Luis Suárez for his commitment and dedication and wishes him all the best for the future…
“Luis Suarez is leaving Barca after six glorious seasons. 
“He has played a key role in winning no fewer than thirteen major trophies.”
Suarez, Neymar and Messi – who might only remain for this season after his summer bid to depart – notched 364 goals in their three campaigns together at the Nou Camp.

And ironically, in Atletico, ex-Liverpool frontman Suarez is joining one of the clubs Barcelona have been most resistant to selling to – perhaps second in reluctance only to fiercest rivals Real Madrid.

Juventus were the hot tips to sign Suarez after new Barca boss Ronald Koeman shortlisted the Uruguay legend for the exit door following last month’s 8-2 Champions League quarter-final defeat against eventual tournament Bayern Munich.
But as Suarez wiped away tears to say goodbye at Barcelona’s Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper facilities, the collapse of that deal and Atletico’s resulting intervention showed how quickly football can move.
His partnership with Messi and Neymar will live long in the minds of fans, but it was Barca’s rapid decline post-lockdown that left his dream stay at the Nou Camp crumbling just as fast.

MSN scored 364 goals across all competitions in their three seasons together.MessiN̶e̶y̶m̶a̶r̶S̶u̶á̶r̶e̶z̶Now one of football’s most iconic trios has completely split up. 😭 pic.twitter.com/ra4p7oa7IN
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) September 23, 2020

Luis Suarez breaks down in tears while leaving Barcelona training for ‘last time’ as Atletico transfer ‘confirmed’ More

LIONEL MESSI waved goodbye to Barcelona pals Arturo Vidal and Luis Suarez amid concerns over a dressing room divide, according to reports.
Club president Josep Maria Bartomeu has overseen a rollercoaster few months at the Camp Nou.

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Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Arturo Vidal were good pals in CataloniaCredit: Reuters

With Vidal, 33, leaving for Inter Milan and Suarez, also 33, making a tearful exit on Wednesday, key senior players have been moved on.
The upheaval, which saw Ronald Koeman installed as coach, is said to have contributed to Messi’s decision to try and leave the club.
The star striker attempted to enact a contract clause allowing him to leave Barcelona for free following their 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Fighting back, Bartomeu highlighted the clause’s expiration some months earlier and successfully warned Messi off a legal battle.
Back in work ahead of the Blaugrana’s LaLiga opener against Villarreal on Sunday, the Argentine is shorn of two key dressing room allies.
Suarez has been a close friend of Messi’s for years, the pair living close by on the Mediterranean coastline and enjoying holidays together with their families.
Neymar was another pal before his exit to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, but his void was filled by Arturo Vidal a year later.

A fresh, energetic and positive character, the Chilean hit it off with Messi.

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According to Spanish newspaper AS, the clique the trio had formed was a motivating factor in Vidal and Suarez’s exits.
After the midfielder was sold, Messi posted an emotional farewell on Instagram, writing: “I wish you all the best in this new stage at your new club. We will meet again, for sure.”
Club president Bartomeu, himself unpopular in the dressing room, is said to have wanted a different atmosphere inside the squad.
A difficult campaign where the team failed to win a trophy reportedly opened up dressing room divides.

These two years we have shared a lot and you made yourself noticed a lot. The dressing room will miss you.
Lionel MessiTribute to Arturo Vidal

And the ensuing sales have left Messi isolated, with just team delegate Pepe Costa as a trusted ally.
The 33-year-old is understood to be friendly with the Spanish side of the squad, including Gerard Pique and Sergio Busquets.
Furthermore, the introduction of former team-mate Henrik Larsson as Koeman’s assistant is hoped to help bring the cliques together.
Pique in particular is described as seeking further influence, by buddying up to young players.

Luis Suarez breaks down in tears while leaving Barcelona training for ‘last time’ as Atletico transfer ‘confirmed’ More

RONALD KOEMAN is set to give Philippe Coutinho, Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann free rein when Barcelona get their LaLiga season underway.
The club will look to end a tumultuous off-season with a win against Villarreal on Sunday.

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Koeman only took charge of the Catalans just over a month ago but has experienced an extremely busy start at the Camp Nou.
Luis Suarez has left for Atletico Madrid but Messi is staying put despite attempting to enact a release clause in his contract.
And even with the Uruguayan’s departure, Barcelona have an impressive array of attacking talent.
Alongside Messi, Griezmann and Ansu Fati are expected to start in Sunday’s 8pm kick-off.

Coutinho could complete the attack with Frenkie de Jong and Sergio Busquets anchoring the midfield in a 4-2-3-1 setup.
Pushing for a start are Ousmane Dembele and Miralem Pjanic but Sport believe both will miss out, the Bosnian not yet being match fit.

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Lionel Messi is chasing a number of big records as Barcelona begin their campaign
Koeman has a fairly straightforward decision to make in defence with Sergi Roberto and Jordi Alba his elected full-backs.
Negotiations over bringing Sergino Dest or Max Aarons to Spain are reportedly ongoing, following Nelson Semedo’s move to Wolves.

Gerard Pique and Clement Lenglet are set to partner up in defence again, in front of goalkeeper Neto after Marc-Andre ter Stegen was ruled out with a knee injury.
New signing Francisco Trincao is likely to be on the bench, along with Pedri after Barcelona reportedly rejected a loan bid from PSV Eindhoven for the young midfielder.

Martin Braithwaite is out through injury while a spot for either Rafinha, Junior Firpo or Jean-Clair Tobido would be a surprise.
Heading into the Camp Nou clash, Koeman has bagged a trio of pre-season wins, dispatching Girona, Elche and Gimnastic.
LaLiga’s opening weeks have been affected by clubs in August’s European action being given extra time off, meaning Villarreal have already played twice ahead of Barcelona’s opening game.
Unai Emery’s side sit third at this point, beating Eibar last week after a draw with newly-promoted Huesca.

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LIONEL MESSI is closing in on ANOTHER four records ahead of his 17th season at Barcelona.
During the summer, it looked like the Argentine had played his last game for the club but he is expected to start against Villarreal when their LaLiga campaign begins on Sunday.

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In anticipation of his somewhat surprising re-emergence, Barcelona-based newspaper Sport placed four huge records Messi is chasing on their front page on Wednesday.
The first is, on the face of it, the simplest – but it was also in huge jeopardy earlier in the year.
In turning out for the Blaugrana in 2020/21, the 33-year-old will enter his 17th season at the club.
Only Xavi Hernandez and Carles Rexach have achieved the same feat, making Messi the first non-Spaniard to do so.

Rexach, 73, only won LaLiga once between 1964 and 1981 while Al-Sadd boss Xavi, 40, collected a whopping 25 honours before leaving in 2015.
Messi joining the duo on 17 seasons is arguably only coming about because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Having become disillusioned by the way the club was being run, he attempted to enact an exit clause in his contract.
Officially, the clause expired in June and, with Barcelona’s season coming to a close with an 8-2 hammering against Bayern Munich on August 14, he had no way out.

Manchester City and Inter Milan circled but the Catalans’ insistence on Messi’s full £631million release clause being met made it very simple for the forward.
Either go to court or stay put, with just one year left on his contract.
He explained in an interview with Goal: “They cling to the fact that I did not say it before June 10.
“When it turns out that on June 10 we were competing for LaLiga in the middle of this awful coronavirus and this disease altered all the season.
“And this is the reason why I am going to continue in the club.
“Now I am going to continue in the club because the president told me that the only way to leave was to pay the €700million (£623m) clause, and that this is impossible.”

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Lionel Messi is set to play on Sunday after reintegrating to Ronald Koeman’s team in pre-seasonCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Messi sticking around means another Barcelona record is coming into his sights.
Already the club’s all-time top goalscorer in LaLiga, the Champions League and El Clasico, as well as their assist leader and most decorated player, he can soon break their appearance record too.
Xavi holds the title thanks to his 767 outings for the Spanish giants.
Messi is only 36 behind, on 731, and will surely take the honour if he remains fit for the majority of the season.
Amazingly, the striker is not Barcelona’s all-time Copa del Rey top scorer and is some way off being so.
With 53 goals in the cup competition, he requires another 13 to surpass Josep Samitier and his 65 strikes between 1919 and 1932.
ONE CLUB MEN
Messi does not hold world football’s record for winning trophies, nor for claiming titles with the same club.
Instead, Ryan Giggs stands ahead of the Barcelona icon with 36 winners’ medals – all collected with Manchester United.
Two behind is Messi and his 34, having failed to lift any silverware in 2019/20.
One record he seems certain to break is the most goals for the same club.

A rival for the title of football’s all-time greatest player current stands higher than Messi.
Pele bagged 643 goals for Santos, although his official tally has long been subject to some debate.
Messi, meanwhile, carries a tally of 634 going into the new campaign, setting him up for yet another prestigious achievement.

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