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      Neymar WON’T be returning to Barcelona with agent saying there’s more chance of Messi joining him at PSG

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      NEYMAR no longer wants to return to Barcelona, according to his agent Wagner Ribeiro.
      And the Brazilian’s representative also claimed there is more chance of Lionel Messi joining his client at Paris Saint-Germain than Neymar going back to the Nou Camp.

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      Neymar no longer wants to return to Barcelona

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      Agent Wagner Ribeiro reckons there is more chance of Lionel Messi joining his client at PSG
      Neymar was heavily linked with a £136million switch back to the Nou Camp earlier this season.
      But after PSG’s surge to the Champions League final and Barca’s humiliating demise, the 28-year-old has had a change of heart and will stay in France for “at least two years”.
      Ribeiro told Placar: “There was a time when he was sad because of his injuries.

      “At that time he was ready to leave, to return to Barcelona or go to Real Madrid. Not today, you can see his joy.

      “I joke with him: living in the city of light, where everyone wants to stroll, enjoying French cuisine, living in a beautiful house, with friends and family close by, playing for one of the best clubs, with everything a person needs and likes…
      “What reason would he have to leave PSG today?
      “Neymar is happy and I think he’ll stay at PSG for at least two more years.
      “Today, without a doubt, it’s easier for Messi to go to PSG than for Neymar to return to Barcelona. Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

      “I’m serious, you can’t doubt Qatar’s economic power.”
      Messi reportedly wants to leave Barcelona this summer after their Champions League humiliation.
      The Catalans were thrashed 8-2 by Bayern Munich in the quarter-final.

      Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman says he doesn’t know if he has to convince Messi to stay More

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      New Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman targets Manchester City defender Eric Garcia as man to replace Gerard Pique

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      NEW Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman aims to bring Eric Garcia back to the Nou Camp this summer.
      The Catalan giants have made it clear they want to re-sign Manchester City’s centre-back, 19, who came through their famed La Masia academy.

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      Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman aims to bring Eric Garcia back to the Nou Camp this summer

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      Gerard Pique’s Barcelona future is in doubt and Garcia is seen as his heir

      Yet with funds tight at the club, Barca chiefs were willing to wait until May when Garcia’s Etihad contract will have expired.
      Now Koeman wants to see if their move for the talented youngster — who has been called up by Spain this week — can be brought forward.
      With doubts over the future of veteran Barca defender Gerard Pique, 33, Koeman is hoping to secure a centre-half for the long-term future.
      City boss Pep Guardiola revealed earlier this month that the Spanish superkid has turned down a new deal and is keen to leave.

      But Etihad moneymen are demanding £30million to consider selling now — and Barca are unlikely to reach that figure.

      City would also be happy to keep Garcia next season and let him leave for free next summer.
      Dutchman Koeman admits it will be difficult to make sweeping changes this window, due to the economic impact of Covid-19.
      But the ex-Everton and Southampton chief knows he must shake things up after their humiliating 8-2 defeat by Bayern Munich — which led to Quique Setien being axed as manager.

      So instead, he will prioritise two or three new faces this summer — with Garcia expected to be one of them.
      Koeman said: “Big clubs are undergoing major losses and I’m aware it may be hard to bring in five or six players immediately.”

      City’s willingness to part with Garcia (right) this summer is likely to be linked to their success in the transfer market.
      They have already paid £40m to sign defender Nathan Ake from relegated Bournemouth.
      And Guardiola is eyeing a move for Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly, despite the Senegal centre-half’s £80m price tag.

      Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman says he doesn’t know if he has to convince Messi to stay More

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      Mauricio Pochettino is becoming football’s forgotten man after Barcelona and Juventus rejection

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      WHEN Juventus fired Maurizio Sarri last week, they were widely reported to want Mauricio Pochettino as their next head coach.
      But those ‘expert’ predictions had barely made it online before the Italian Champions appointed club legend Andrea Pirlo.

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      Mauricio Pochettino was overlooked by both Barcelona and Juventus
      The same thing happened the other day, when Barcelona reacted to their Champions League humiliation at the hands of Bayern Munich by sacking coach Quique Setien.
      Once again we were reliably informed that Pochettino was top of their wanted list — until it was announced that Ronald Koeman would be taking over at the Nou Camp.
      Poch, it seems, had barely registered in the thoughts of two of football’s biggest clubs before being passed over.
      And now the out-of-work Argentine must be wondering exactly when his big chance is going to come.

      It is more than nine months since he left Tottenham with a £12million pay-off.
      So at least he’s not short of a few bob as he awaits his next opportunity.
      But all those elite manager’s jobs which were supposed to be awaiting him have yet to materialise.
      And we’re rapidly approaching the point where Poch is in danger of becoming the forgotten man of football.

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      Juventus appointed club legend Andrea Pirlo as their new manager
      The Argentine Alan Curbishley, if you like.
      Pochettino could never have envisaged such a situation when he was dismissed by Spurs last November.
      After all, hadn’t he worked a minor miracle during his five years in North London?
      Surely he was destined for the very top after leading Tottenham to second place in the 2016-17 campaign — their highest Premier League finish — and to last season’s Champions League final while working to a limited budget.
      The general consensus at the time was that he was all set to replace struggling Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United.
      Yet just when it seemed the writing was on the Old Trafford walls for Ole, he seized the wheel to turn the United ship around, aided by the signing of £55million man Bruno Fernandes and a s***-load of penalties.
      Now we’re being told it’s actually Manchester City who are lining up Pochettino, if Pep Guardiola decides he wants a new challenge.

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      Ronald Koeman replaced Quique Setien at Barcelona
      But that’s a big ‘if’, because Guardiola still has a year of his Etihad contract to run and Sheikh Mansour is doing everything in his considerable power to secure a new deal.
      And even if Guardiola does leave City next summer, can Pochettino really afford to wait that long?
      Football club owners, like goldfish, tend to have very short memories and Poch’s previous achievements are rapidly fading into the mists of time.
      He needs to make his managerial return sooner rather than later but if you look across Europe’s elite teams, it’s the same tale of blocked roads.
      Former club Paris Saint-Germain aren’t going to be sacking Thomas Tuchel after getting to Sunday’s Champions League final.And Zinedine Zidane looks equally secure at Real Madrid.
      Bayern Munich are in love with new boss Hansi Flick and none of the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’ will be in the market for a new boss any time soon.
      Even Newcastle have had to curb their fanciful big-time ambitions after the collapse of their proposed Saudi-backed takeover.

      So that leaves maybe one of the lesser French, German or Italian teams — but none who would be regarded as a step up from Spurs, nor able to pay him the £170,000 a week he was getting in his previous job.
      At 48, Pochettino is far from finished and surely it’s only a matter of time before his star is back in the ascendancy.
      But the anticipated stampede of clubs beating a path to his door has not transpired and that must be a painful blow to his self-esteem.

      Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman says he doesn’t know if he has to convince Messi to stay More

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      Lionel Messi sensationally tells Barcelona he ‘doesn’t see future with club’ after crunch talks with new boss Koeman

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      LIONEL MESSI has reportedly told new boss Ronald Koeman that he does NOT see his future at Barcelona.
      Catalan radio RAC1 claims Messi dropped the bombshell during crunch talks with Koeman just one day after the Dutchman’s arrival.

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      Lionel Messi has told Ronald Koeman he does not see his future at BarcelonaCredit: Manu Fernandez
      Messi apparently ended his summer holiday early for the heart-to-heart on Thursday.
      And the legendary forward added that he sees himself more “out of the club than in it.”
      Messi has long been thought to be unhappy at Barcelona following turmoil on and off the pitch.

      Their meek surrender of LaLiga to Real Madrid, coupled with a humiliating Champions League exit against Bayern Munich, saw both boss Quique Setien and director of football Eric Abidal axed.

      Messi has just one year left on his Catalan contract.
      And even though Barca president Josep Bartomeu said on Tuesday that he will be staying put, Messi is thought to be giving serious consideration to leaving.
      Manchester City are reportedly interested as Pep Guardiola ponders a stunning Premier League reunion.

      But Europa League finalists Inter Milan are the favourites to sign Messi should he leave.
      It’s no secret that Barcelona are keen on Lautaro Martinez and could be tempted to do a deal following Messi’s reported revelation.
      Barca fans now face an anxious wait to see if their club’s recent internal and external woes really will result in the loss of arguably world football’s best-ever player.

      Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman says he doesn’t know if he has to convince Messi to stay More

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      Gerard Deulofeu slams Ronald Koeman for ‘giving him nothing’ at Everton and says he doesn’t care about Barcelona crisis

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      GERARD DEULOFEU has slammed Ronald Koeman after his former Everton boss was given the Barcelona job.
      Ex-Nou Camp kid Deulofeu spent one season playing for Koeman at Goodison Park in the 2016/17 campaign before being shipped off to AC Milan.

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      Gerard Deulofeu has slammed Ronald Koeman for their time together at EvertonCredit: PA:Press Association
      And the 26-year-old winger, now at Watford, has warned Barcelona not to expect any magic from Dutchman Koeman.
      Deulofeu told Catalunya Radio: “I can tell you about Koeman from my personal experience, and I have very little to tell you about Koeman.
      “He provided me absolutely nothing. I wasn’t happy, I asked to leave and I went to Milan.
      “We’ll see how he does at the Camp Nou.”

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      Koeman has been confirmed as Barcelona’s new managerCredit: EPA
      Koeman was announced as Quique Setien’s replacement yesterday following Barca’s 8-2 hammering against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
      The Spanish giants, who also lost their LaLiga crown to Real Madrid, find themselves in a rare state of turmoil.
      And it’s reckoned the entire squad bar seven ‘untouchables’ – including Lionel Messi – are up for sale this summer.
      Bold reports also claim Koeman is eyeing a raid on old club Everton for centre-back Michael Keane.

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      Barcelona have no intention of selling star man Lionel MessiCredit: Manu Fernandez
      But he may not get very long in the job as the favourite to become Barcelona’s next president has vowed to sack Koeman and replace him with Xavi next year.
      And La Masia product Deulofeu insists he has zero interest in the comings and goings at his former stomping ground, adding that things would be a lot better if the hierarchy had put more faith in academy players instead of big-money flops.
      Deulofeu added: “The truth is that Barcelona’s situation does not bother me. In fact, right now, I don’t care.
      “At Barcelona, they have not had patience with La Masia for years.

      “If you give the youngsters time, they learn the style of the first team.
      “There are players, many of us have come from there, but not patience.
      “Now there will be changes, but they are years behind.”

      Barcelona president confirms Ronald Koeman as new boss and says Lionel Messi is staying More

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      Lionel Messi cuts holiday short to meet new Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman for showdown talks with future up in air

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      LIONEL MESSI has cut short his holidays to meet new Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman – amid reports he could ask to leave.
      The LaLiga giants’ stunning 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich confirmed their first trophyless campaign in 12 years.

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      Questions have been asked of Lionel Messi’s future after Barcelona’s nightmare end to the seasonCredit: AFP OR LICENSORS

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      Ronald Koeman has taken over at the Camp Nou and must persuade Messi to stayCredit: Reuters
      And Messi, 33, is said to have been weighing up his options while the club sacked its coach and technical director.
      Incoming boss Koeman, 57, is due to meet the Argentine on Thursday, according to TyC Sports.
      Messi had been holidaying with his family in a house he owns in the Pyrenees mountains, to the north of Barcelona, but has cut that stay short for the talks.
      Having signed a two-year deal on Wednesday, Koeman admitted that one of his first jobs will be convincing Messi to stay.

      The Dutchman told reporters: “He’s still got a contract and is still a Barcelona player.
      “At this point I need to speak to him because he is the captain.

      If he’s at the ability and level he has always shown I’d be more than happy for him to stay.
      Ronald Koeman

      “We need to work with him and speak with various players. We need to make some decisions but in Messi’s case I hope he stays with us.
      “I don’t know if I have to convince Messi [to stay], whether it’s that or not. He is the best player in the world and the best player in the world you want in your team, you don’t want him playing against you.

      “As a coach I would love to work with Messi because he wins matches. If he’s at the ability and level he has always shown I’d be more than happy for him to stay.”
      Manchester City, coached by the striker’s former boss Pep Guardiola, are the immediate club linked with a shock transfer.

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      Man City are the favourites to sign Messi this summer
      Messi’s contract is up in 2021 and the star forward has appeared increasingly frustrated in recent months.
      Since departing Lisbon following the devastation of the Bayern hammering, he has been conspicuously silent while the club attempts to calm the panic around the Camp Nou.
      Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has insisted that Messi does want to see out his career in Catalonia.
      He said: “Messi wants to end his career at Barcelona.

      “I regularly speak to him and his father [Jorge]. He’s part of our project.
      “Koeman will be the new manager and he told me that Messi is a key player for our new project.”
      He added: “I spoke with Jorge Messi. He told me what we all know, that there is a strong disappointment.
      “The disappointment is correct. [Have your] holidays, clear your head and start the season with full force.”

      A look at the career of Lionel Messi as rumours circulate the Barcelona captain is looking to leave Camp Nou More

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      Liverpool star Georginio Wijnaldum wanted in Barcelona transfer as new boss Koeman ‘tells him to snub new deal’

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      GEORGINIO WIJNALDUM is a transfer target for Barcelona with new boss Ronald Koeman urging him to snub a new Liverpool contract, according to reports.
      The midfielder, 29, has just one year left on his current deal at Anfield.

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      Georginio Wijnaldum is a transfer target for Barcelona with his contract at Liverpool running out next summerCredit: Rex Features
      And according to AD in the Netherlands, Koeman has told his compatriot not to sign an extension.
      That’s because, the report adds, the new Barca chief is keen to bring him to the Nou Camp instead.
      Koeman replaced Quique Setien this week and is preparing for a major squad overhaul.
      Other than seven ‘untouchables’ – Lionel Messi, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Clement Lenglet, Nelson Semedo, Frenkie de Jong, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele – everyone else is up for sale.

      And the manager will be hoping to try and land Wijnaldum with some raised funds.
      The midfielder signed for Liverpool from Newcastle for £25million in 2016 and played a crucial role in Jurgen Klopp’s men becoming European, world and – finally – Premier League champions.
      But he is yet to pen a new deal and opened the door to a transfer in January by admitting it is “difficult to say” what the future holds.

      He said: “What would I like? It is difficult to say.

      “It depends on what the club wants and how the situation is at that time.”
      Miralem Pjanic will join Barcelona as one new central midfielder during the brief off-season.
      But Koeman managed Wijnaldum with the Dutch national team and already has fellow countryman De Jong in midfield.

      The three teamed up expertly to help pull the Netherlands out of a dire state following their failure to qualify for back-to-back major tournaments.
      And by signing Wijnaldum, they would no doubt hope to do something similar amid the chaos and unrest at Barcelona.
      But Barca know it will not be easy to convince the former Feyenoord and PSV star to leave Anfield while making a move may prompt the Reds to prioritise sorting a new deal.

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      Wijnaldum worked under Ronald Koeman with the Dutch national team before he took the Nou Camp jobCredit: Getty – Contributor

      A profile look at new Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman More

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      Man Utd set to confirm transfer for Marc Jurado as Barcelona kid comments on Bruno Fernandes Instagram post

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      MANCHESTER UNITED look set to confirm the signing of Barcelona youngster Marc Jurado after his comment on Bruno Fernandes’ Instagram
      United reportedly agreed a deal to sign the 16-year-old in May.

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      Man Utd look set to announce the signing of Marc Jurado

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      The 16-year-old commented on Bruno Fernandes’ Instagram as if he was a United player already
      And the right-back is said to be waiting on international clearance.
      Although United are yet to announce the signing, Jurado’s online activity suggests it is only a matter of time.
      After United crashed out the Europa League to Sevilla on Sunday, Fernandes took to Instagram to share his disappointment.
      He wrote: “Unfortunately our journey in the Europa League ends here.

      “It wasn’t what we expected. We wanted to be in the final and fight for the trophy we so desired.
      “Whilst we congratulate Sevilla for making it to the final, we still played well and we didn’t deserve to stop here.”
      And writing as if he were already a United player, Jurado wrote: “We keep fighting.”

      Spanish star Jurado has been at Barca’s famed La Masia academy for the past nine years.

      However, he has decided to try his luck in England despite still being a teenager – just like Cesc Fabregas and Gerard Pique.
      Barcelona were confident of keeping Jurado tied down to the club after seeing fellow prospects Ansu Fati and Ilaix Moriba commit to new deals.
      However, United are now toasting the capture of the highly-rated prodigy as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks to invest in youth and bring back the glory years to Old Trafford.
      Jurado was born in Sabadell, some 18 miles from Barcelona, in Catalunya.

      He showed promise playing for his local team, CFU Can Rull before he joined La Masia aged seven.
      Jurado was considered an important part of Barcelona’s future, and after tying down Fati and Moriba to long-term contracts their hierarchy were hopeful Jurado would follow suit.
      But, it is believed he feels he will have a better chance of first team football playing for United.

      A modern full-back in the Spanish mould of Bellerin, Jurado does his best work going forward.
      Blessed with bags of pace, he constantly looks to overlap and provide an attacking threat on the right-hand side.
      He was one of the best players in Barcelona’s Cadet A team this season, and it was expected that he was going to promoted to their Juvenil B side.

      Man Utd wage bill revealed with Dean Henderson set to take home same amount as Bruno Fernandes after new contract More