LaLiga has raised&nbsp;Barcelona's spending limit by 800 million euros ($803 million), bringing it out of a spending deficit after the Catalan side sold off chunks of assets to patch up its finances, the Spanish league said.

Barcelona&nbsp;were given a cap of 96 million euros last year, which was slashed by January to minus 144 million euros - meaning the team had to find savings elsewhere to sign new players - after they ran up debts and future liabilities of 1.35 billion euros, with 673 million owed to banks.

As a result of their financial turnaround, the league said on Friday it has given&nbsp;Barcelona&nbsp;a cap of 656 million euros for the 2022-23 season.

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To offset losses and comply with LaLiga's financial fair play rules,&nbsp;Barcelona&nbsp;sold 25% of their domestic television rights to U.S. investment firm Sixth Street for the next 25 years in two deals worth over 500 million euros.

The club raised an additional 200 million euros from the sale of a 49% stake in Barca Studios in two separate transactions, while also signing a long-term sponsorship deal with streaming giant Spotify in March.

That allowed&nbsp;Barcelona&nbsp;to spend more than 150 million euros on Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Kounde, while Andreas Christensen, Franck Kessie, Hector Bellerin and Marcos Alonso all arrived on free transfers.

LaLiga president Javier Tebas said&nbsp;Barcelona&nbsp;will have to continue to reduce their wage bill to maintain their spending limit for next season.

"Without the (sale of assets) it may not be so high next season. They may have to reduce their outgoings by around 200 million euros by selling players or even (selling more) assets," Tebas told reporters.

When asked if LaLiga had been too generous in accommodating the club's needs, Tebas said: "Not at all. The same rules are applied to all the clubs in Spain. To register Kounde, the president of&nbsp;Barcelona&nbsp;had to put up a personal guarantee.

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"Is there a risk of bankruptcy? In my opinion, I don't think so, not at all. They have a high wage bill but a lot of equity, although... they have had and (will) have to reduce the wage bill."

Real Madrid have the highest spending cap in the league at 683 million euros, while Atletico Madrid are third behind&nbsp;Barcelona&nbsp;at 341 million euros.

LaLiga's spending limit accounts for the maximum amount clubs can spend on salaries, bonuses and amortisation payments on transfers across a season.

LaLiga has raised Barcelona's spending limit by 800 million euros ($803 million), bringing it out of a spending deficit after the Catalan side sold off chunks of assets to patch up its finances, the Spanish league said.

LaLiga has raised Barcelona's spending limit by 800 million euros ($803 million), bringing it out of a spending deficit after the Catalan side sold off chunks of assets to patch up its finances, the Spanish league said. Barcelona were given a cap of 96 million euros last year, which was slashed by January to minus 144 million euros - meaning the team had to find savings elsewhere to sign new players - after they ran up debts and future liabilities of 1.35 billion euros, with 673 million owed to banks. As a result of their financial turnaround, the league said on Friday it has given Barcelona a cap of 656 million euros for the 2022-23 season. ALSO READ: 'Not giving you the runaround': PSG manager Galtier responds to rumours of rift between Neymar and Mbappe To offset losses and comply with LaLiga's financial fair play rules, Barcelona sold 25% of their domestic television rights to U.S. investment firm Sixth Street for the next 25 years in two deals worth over 500 million euros. The club raised an additional 200 million euros from the sale of a 49% stake in Barca Studios in two separate transactions, while also signing a long-term sponsorship deal with streaming giant Spotify in March. That allowed Barcelona to spend more than 150 million euros on Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Kounde, while Andreas Christensen, Franck Kessie, Hector Bellerin and Marcos Alonso all arrived on free transfers. LaLiga president Javier Tebas said Barcelona will have to continue to reduce their wage bill to maintain their spending limit for next season. "Without the (sale of assets) it may not be so high next season. They may have to reduce their outgoings by around 200 million euros by selling players or even (selling more) assets," Tebas told reporters. When asked if LaLiga had been too generous in accommodating the club's needs, Tebas said: "Not at all. The same rules are applied to all the clubs in Spain. To register Kounde, the president of Barcelona had to put up a personal guarantee. ALSO READ: AIFF bigwigs hold 'constructive discussions' with FIFA chief regarding development of Indian football "Is there a risk of bankruptcy? In my opinion, I don't think so, not at all. They have a high wage bill but a lot of equity, although... they have had and (will) have to reduce the wage bill." Real Madrid have the highest spending cap in the league at 683 million euros, while Atletico Madrid are third behind Barcelona at 341 million euros. LaLiga's spending limit accounts for the maximum amount clubs can spend on salaries, bonuses and amortisation payments on transfers across a season.

LaLiga raises Barcelona's spending cap to €800 million after sale of club assets

With the transfer mill running rampant as the deadline for the window approaches, Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea have confirmed a swap deal with Barcelona worth&nbsp;£10M, bringing on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in exchange for Marcos Alonso.

Although Auba will be making his way back to London, he will be sporting the iconic blue jersey of the Stamford Bridge-based outfit. He previously charted a course to Spain after Arsenal decided to ship him off to Catalunya for free. However, he is set to return to the city, joining the ranks of their neighbouring arch-rivals.

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Auba was recently cleared to fly to the United Kingdom to complete the formalities that come with joining a new club, including his medical. His personal terms are not expected to be a roadblock in completing this transfer.

However, it will be some time before the team gets the opportunity to train alongside the Gabon international as he is currently recovering from a minor fracture to his jaw, which he suffered during an attack on his home over the weekend. His recovery is well on track and he is expected to return to non-contact training in a week and full fitness in no more than three.

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Chelsea's frontman Thomas Tuchel has kept extremely busy during the transfer window, having shelled out a whopping&nbsp;£268m on players over the summer. With this massive amount, Tuchel has acquired players including, Raheem Sterling from Manchester City, Marc Cucurella from&nbsp;Brighton &amp; Hove Albion FC, Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli and Leicester City's Wesley Fofana.

The German coach will be more than excited to be reunited with Aubameyang, who previously scored almost 80 goals for&nbsp;Borussia Dortmund over the course of two seasons under his expert guidance. Whether the 33-year-old will be able to replicate this success is something that remains to be seen.&nbsp;

With the transfer mill running rampant as the deadline for the window approaches, Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea have confirmed a swap deal with Barcelona worth £10M, bringing on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in exchange for Marcos Alonso.

With the transfer mill running rampant as the deadline for the window approaches, Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea have confirmed a swap deal with Barcelona worth £10M, bringing on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in exchange for Marcos Alonso. Although Auba will be making his way back to London, he will be sporting the iconic blue jersey of the Stamford Bridge-based outfit. He previously charted a course to Spain after Arsenal decided to ship him off to Catalunya for free. However, he is set to return to the city, joining the ranks of their neighbouring arch-rivals. ALSO READ: Jury discharged following failure to reach verdict in Ryan Giggs assault trial Auba was recently cleared to fly to the United Kingdom to complete the formalities that come with joining a new club, including his medical. His personal terms are not expected to be a roadblock in completing this transfer. However, it will be some time before the team gets the opportunity to train alongside the Gabon international as he is currently recovering from a minor fracture to his jaw, which he suffered during an attack on his home over the weekend. His recovery is well on track and he is expected to return to non-contact training in a week and full fitness in no more than three. ALSO READ: Erling Halaand hits second successive hat-trick as Man City attain big win, Arsenal beat Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea's frontman Thomas Tuchel has kept extremely busy during the transfer window, having shelled out a whopping £268m on players over the summer. With this massive amount, Tuchel has acquired players including, Raheem Sterling from Manchester City, Marc Cucurella from Brighton & Hove Albion FC, Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli and Leicester City's Wesley Fofana. The German coach will be more than excited to be reunited with Aubameyang, who previously scored almost 80 goals for Borussia Dortmund over the course of two seasons under his expert guidance. Whether the 33-year-old will be able to replicate this success is something that remains to be seen.

Chelsea agree to a £10M swap deal with Barcelona as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang returns to London

The Champions League group stage draw got underway in Istanbul, Turkey, with some of the most successful European teams going up against equally formidable opponents for the pleasure of fans all over the world.&nbsp;

The reigning champions Real Madrid found themselves in Group F among the likes of Shakhtar Donetsk, Celtic and RB Leipzig. Last year's finalists Liverpool, on the other hand, joined Ajax, Napoli and Rangers in Group A.

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Group B featured Bayer Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge and FC Porto. While Group D will see&nbsp;Eintracht Frankfurt, Tottenham Hotspur,&nbsp;Sporting Lisbon and&nbsp;Marseille lock horns with each other on the football pitch.

Group E will witness Chelsea, AC Milan,&nbsp;Salzburg and&nbsp;Dinamo Zagreb go toe-to-toe against each other. Group G houses the Premier League kingpins Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund, Sevilla and&nbsp;Copenhagen. The final group in the tournament will see PSG, Benfica, Juventus and&nbsp;Maccabi Haifa.

In addition to the group stage draws, UEFA also went on to honour players and managers with awards, recognizing their performances over the course of the last season.

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Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois and Karim Benzema were nominated for the title of UEFA Men's Player of the Year. However, it was the Real Madrid striker who walked away with the title. The title of the Women's Player of the Year, on the other hand, was conferred upon&nbsp;Barcelona's Alexia Putellas.

Carlos Ancelloti, who led Real Madrid's charge to La Liga and Champions League glory, was honoured with the title of UEFA Men's Coach of the Year. The Women's Coach of the Year accolade was picked up by&nbsp;Sarina Wiegman, who spearheaded England's Euro 2022 win.

The Champions League group stage draw got underway in Istanbul, Turkey, with some of the most successful European teams going up against equally formidable opponents for the pleasure of fans all over the world.

The Champions League group stage draw got underway in Istanbul, Turkey, with some of the most successful European teams going up against equally formidable opponents for the pleasure of fans all over the world. The reigning champions Real Madrid found themselves in Group F among the likes of Shakhtar Donetsk, Celtic and RB Leipzig. Last year's finalists Liverpool, on the other hand, joined Ajax, Napoli and Rangers in Group A. ALSO READ: 'Will never...': Former Liverpool star lashes out at Cristiano Ronaldo for brutally ignoring Jamie Carragher Group B featured Bayer Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge and FC Porto. While Group D will see Eintracht Frankfurt, Tottenham Hotspur, Sporting Lisbon and Marseille lock horns with each other on the football pitch. Group E will witness Chelsea, AC Milan, Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb go toe-to-toe against each other. Group G houses the Premier League kingpins Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund, Sevilla and Copenhagen. The final group in the tournament will see PSG, Benfica, Juventus and Maccabi Haifa. In addition to the group stage draws, UEFA also went on to honour players and managers with awards, recognizing their performances over the course of the last season. ALSO READ: 'How many stories do you have?': Man City's Benjamin Mendy asked police after being arrested for rape Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois and Karim Benzema were nominated for the title of UEFA Men's Player of the Year. However, it was the Real Madrid striker who walked away with the title. The title of the Women's Player of the Year, on the other hand, was conferred upon Barcelona's Alexia Putellas. Carlos Ancelloti, who led Real Madrid's charge to La Liga and Champions League glory, was honoured with the title of UEFA Men's Coach of the Year. The Women's Coach of the Year accolade was picked up by Sarina Wiegman, who spearheaded England's Euro 2022 win.

UEFA Champions League: Group stage draws revealed, Manchester City  take on Borussia Dortmund and more

In the wake of the completion of the Champions League play-off ties, UEFA has announced the pots for the 2022/23 Champions League group stage draw. The draw is set to take place on Thursday at 17:00 BST in Istanbul.

The reigning UCL&nbsp;champions Real Madrid find themselves in Pot 1 with the likes of&nbsp;Eintracht Frankfurt,&nbsp;Manchester City,&nbsp;Paris Saint-Germain,&nbsp;AC Milan,&nbsp;Bayern Munich,&nbsp;Ajax, and Porto.&nbsp;

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The second pot will feature last year's finalists, Liverpool alongside some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Liverpool, Barcelona,&nbsp;Sevilla,&nbsp;Juventus,&nbsp;Chelsea,&nbsp;Atletico Madrid,&nbsp;RB Leipzig, and Tottenham.

The third pot houses clubs like&nbsp;Borussia Dortmund,&nbsp;RB Salzburg,&nbsp;Shakhtar Donetsk, Inter, Bayer Leverkusen, Napoli, Sporting CP, and Benfica.

While the fourth pot will see the likes of&nbsp;Club Brugge,&nbsp;Celtic,&nbsp;Maccabi Haifa,&nbsp;Viktoria Plzen,&nbsp;Marseille,&nbsp;Rangers,&nbsp;FC Copenhagen, and Dinamo Zagreb.

The Champions League group stage matches are all set to go down&nbsp;on September 6th and will come to an end on November 2nd.

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The schedule of the tournament has been adjusted according to the upcoming FIFA World Cup, which is set to kick off later this year. The Champions League is slated to start early in September and will end 5 weeks ahead of schedule in early November.

The initial six rounds of the tournament will be played up until November before the footballing community will leap headfirst into a short hiatus prompted by the first World Cup being held outside the European summer. The Champions League final is all set to take place at Istanbul's Atatürk Olympic Stadium on June 10th.

In the wake of the completion of the Champions League play-off ties, UEFA has announced the pots for the 2022/23 Champions League group stage draw. The draw is set to take place on Thursday at 17:00 BST in Istanbul.

In the wake of the completion of the Champions League play-off ties, UEFA has announced the pots for the 2022/23 Champions League group stage draw. The draw is set to take place on Thursday at 17:00 BST in Istanbul. The reigning UCL champions Real Madrid find themselves in Pot 1 with the likes of Eintracht Frankfurt, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, Bayern Munich, Ajax, and Porto. ALSO READ: Barcelona vs Manchester City live streaming: When & where to watch the friendly match in India? The second pot will feature last year's finalists, Liverpool alongside some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Liverpool, Barcelona, Sevilla, Juventus, Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, RB Leipzig, and Tottenham. The third pot houses clubs like Borussia Dortmund, RB Salzburg, Shakhtar Donetsk, Inter, Bayer Leverkusen, Napoli, Sporting CP, and Benfica. While the fourth pot will see the likes of Club Brugge, Celtic, Maccabi Haifa, Viktoria Plzen, Marseille, Rangers, FC Copenhagen, and Dinamo Zagreb. The Champions League group stage matches are all set to go down on September 6th and will come to an end on November 2nd. ALSO READ: Man United's Cristiano Ronaldo was open to take pay cut to be part of Borussia Dortmund: Report The schedule of the tournament has been adjusted according to the upcoming FIFA World Cup, which is set to kick off later this year. The Champions League is slated to start early in September and will end 5 weeks ahead of schedule in early November. The initial six rounds of the tournament will be played up until November before the footballing community will leap headfirst into a short hiatus prompted by the first World Cup being held outside the European summer. The Champions League final is all set to take place at Istanbul's Atatürk Olympic Stadium on June 10th.

UEFA confirms Champions League group stage draw pots for the upcoming season

There's a lot in store for every football fans with&nbsp;a lot of action with each passing week. For a noble cause, FC Barcelona will square off versus Pep Guardiola-led Manchester City in a friendly clash, which is a little more than just football.

For the unversed, all the&nbsp;proceeds from the high-voltage encounter will be donated to research in to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). It is a progressive nervous system disease that severely impacts the brain as well as the spinal cord;&nbsp;causing loss of muscle control. At present, there is no cure to this disease. Hence, Man City and Barca will look to get the better of each other in the friendly clash but also hope to create awareness about the disease to one and all.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/what-do-you-want-me-to-do-cristiano-ronaldos-conversation-with-roy-keane-before-united-liverpool-revealed-509873">'What do you want me to do'- Cristiano Ronaldo's conversation with Roy Keane before United-Liverpool revealed</a>

Let's take a look at the live streaming details of the Barcelona vs Manchester City clash:

Where will the Barcelona vs Manchester City clash&nbsp;take place?

The Barcelona vs Manchester City friendly match&nbsp;will be held&nbsp;at&nbsp;the Camp Nou Stadium, Spain.

At what time does the Barcelona vs Manchester City&nbsp;match kick-off?

The Barcelona vs Manchester City friendly match will kick off&nbsp;at 1:00 AM IST on Thursday, August 25.

How to watch live coverage of the Barcelona vs Manchester City match on TV?

There will be no telecast&nbsp;of&nbsp;the friendly clash between Man City and FC Barcelona.

How to watch live coverage of the Barcelona vs Manchester City face-off?

Similarly, the Barcelona vs Manchester City friendly match live streaming will also not be available on any major streaming platforms in India.&nbsp;

There's a lot in store for every football fans with a lot of action with each passing week. For a noble cause, FC Barcelona will square off versus Pep Guardiola-led Manchester City in a friendly clash, which is a little more than just football.

There's a lot in store for every football fans with a lot of action with each passing week. For a noble cause, FC Barcelona will square off versus Pep Guardiola-led Manchester City in a friendly clash, which is a little more than just football. For the unversed, all the proceeds from the high-voltage encounter will be donated to research in to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). It is a progressive nervous system disease that severely impacts the brain as well as the spinal cord; causing loss of muscle control. At present, there is no cure to this disease. Hence, Man City and Barca will look to get the better of each other in the friendly clash but also hope to create awareness about the disease to one and all. ALSO READ | 'What do you want me to do'- Cristiano Ronaldo's conversation with Roy Keane before United-Liverpool revealed Let's take a look at the live streaming details of the Barcelona vs Manchester City clash: Where will the Barcelona vs Manchester City clash take place? The Barcelona vs Manchester City friendly match will be held at the Camp Nou Stadium, Spain. At what time does the Barcelona vs Manchester City match kick-off? The Barcelona vs Manchester City friendly match will kick off at 1:00 AM IST on Thursday, August 25. How to watch live coverage of the Barcelona vs Manchester City match on TV? There will be no telecast of the friendly clash between Man City and FC Barcelona. How to watch live coverage of the Barcelona vs Manchester City face-off? Similarly, the Barcelona vs Manchester City friendly match live streaming will also not be available on any major streaming platforms in India.

Barcelona vs Manchester City live streaming: When & where to watch the friendly match in India?

An interesting video of a bag thief in Barcelona, Spain, went viral on social media platforms. The man was caught as the clip of him stealing was aired live on TV. The video showed how smartly he filched a stranger's bag.&nbsp;

The viral incident happened when Spain's public broadcaster TVE news station was speaking to a tourist on the city's Sant Miquel beach.

When the tourist was questioned about his love for the city, the crime can be seen taking place in the background.&nbsp;

Media reports have claimed that the police have used the same footage to track down the culprit. On Sunday, the local police of Guàrdia Urbana revealed that they reviewed the footage to identify the thief.&nbsp;

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Guàrdia Urbana in a statement: "Thanks to a video published [...] on social media and the victim's complaint, today we identified and charged the perpetrator of a theft on Sant Miquel beach".&nbsp;

Reports have also claimed that the stolen possessions were returned to their owner.&nbsp;

Watch the video here:&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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Nos llega vídeo propagandístico de la televisión pública <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/espa%C3%B1a?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#españa</a>, intentando “ blanquear “la situación de <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/inseguridadciudadana?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#inseguridadciudadana</a> en <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/barcelona?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#barcelona</a> y la realidad se impone en directo. Ni los medios de comunicación públicos o subvencionados lo pueden ocultar aunque se esfuerzan. <a href="https://t.co/PMobiNhOPx">pic.twitter.com/PMobiNhOPx</a>
— Politeia (@Politeia_ESP) <a href="https://twitter.com/Politeia_ESP/status/1558748999192035333?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2022</a></blockquote>
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As far as the statistics are concerned such crimes are quite common in the tourist-favourite Barcelona city in Spain.

The city has become a street crime hotspot, with approximately 225 thefts reported every day between January and the end of May 2022.

Reports say that 27 cases of violent theft were recorded in the same period.&nbsp;

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An interesting video of a bag thief in Barcelona, Spain, went viral on social media platforms. The man was caught as the clip of him stealing was aired live on TV.

An interesting video of a bag thief in Barcelona, Spain, went viral on social media platforms. The man was caught as the clip of him stealing was aired live on TV. The video showed how smartly he filched a stranger's bag. The viral incident happened when Spain's public broadcaster TVE news station was speaking to a tourist on the city's Sant Miquel beach. When the tourist was questioned about his love for the city, the crime can be seen taking place in the background. Media reports have claimed that the police have used the same footage to track down the culprit. On Sunday, the local police of Guàrdia Urbana revealed that they reviewed the footage to identify the thief. ALSO READ | Research suggests now-extinct megalodon shark could devour killer whale in just five bites Guàrdia Urbana in a statement: "Thanks to a video published [...] on social media and the victim's complaint, today we identified and charged the perpetrator of a theft on Sant Miquel beach". Reports have also claimed that the stolen possessions were returned to their owner. Watch the video here: Nos llega vídeo propagandístico de la televisión pública #españa, intentando “ blanquear “la situación de #inseguridadciudadana en #barcelona y la realidad se impone en directo. Ni los medios de comunicación públicos o subvencionados lo pueden ocultar aunque se esfuerzan. pic.twitter.com/PMobiNhOPx — Politeia (@Politeia_ESP) August 14, 2022 × ALSO READ | 'The Calvine Photo': A myth or 'world's clearest' UFO photo that it released after 30 years? As far as the statistics are concerned such crimes are quite common in the tourist-favourite Barcelona city in Spain. The city has become a street crime hotspot, with approximately 225 thefts reported every day between January and the end of May 2022. Reports say that 27 cases of violent theft were recorded in the same period. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Oops, busted! Bag thief in Barcelona caught stealing live on TV - Watch

Lionel Messi has paid a steep price for an unsatisfactory debut season with Paris Saint-Germain. The 30-person shortlist for this year's Ballon d'Or did not include the football player who is a seven-time winner of the coveted award.&nbsp;

As per AFP, Messi, who won the award last year, had been a consistent nominee since 2006 and with the exception of 2018, a constant inclusion in the top three since 2007.

He will not get the award in 2022 due to his move from Barcelona to the French capital and a change in the prize format.

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The Ballon d'Or no longer honours the best player over the course of a calendar year, which has worked against the Argentine superstar.&nbsp;It is now determined on a season's performance, emphasising "the individual performances" and the "decisive and impressive character" of the nominees.

Following his departure from Barcelona in the summer of 2021, Messi was unable to imprint his brilliance on a PSG squad that was in desperate need of a Champions League victory.&nbsp;He only scored 11 goals for PSG in total, and the judges for the Ballon d'Or, which will be presented in Paris on October 17, were unimpressed by his mediocre club play.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/getting-ready-for-the-season-marcus-rashford-clears-the-air-about-potential-psg-transfer-506166" hreflang="en">'Looking forward to getting...' - Man United star Marcus Rashford clears the air about potential PSG transfer</a>

The rest of the nominations aren't particularly surprising.

Karim Benzema, the French international striker who helped Real Madrid win their 14th Champions League title, is the clear favourite.&nbsp;He is joined on the 30-man roster by teammates Thibaut Courtois, Casemiro, 2018 winner Luka Modric, Vinicius, and former Chelsea star Antonio Rudiger.

Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner for Manchester United, is nominated again this year.

Liverpool has the most nominees of any club with seven players: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Diaz, Fabinho, Sadio Mane, who has since joined Bayern Munich, Darwin Nunez, Mohamed Salah, and Virgil Van Dijk.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Lionel Messi has paid a steep price for an unsatisfactory debut season with Paris Saint-Germain. The 30-person shortlist for this year's Ballon d'Or did not include the football player who is a seven-time winner of the coveted award.

Lionel Messi has paid a steep price for an unsatisfactory debut season with Paris Saint-Germain. The 30-person shortlist for this year's Ballon d'Or did not include the football player who is a seven-time winner of the coveted award. As per AFP, Messi, who won the award last year, had been a consistent nominee since 2006 and with the exception of 2018, a constant inclusion in the top three since 2007. He will not get the award in 2022 due to his move from Barcelona to the French capital and a change in the prize format. Also read | 'Support peace in Ukraine'- Former Chelsea star and Ballon d'Or winner calls for int'l backing in war effort The Ballon d'Or no longer honours the best player over the course of a calendar year, which has worked against the Argentine superstar. It is now determined on a season's performance, emphasising "the individual performances" and the "decisive and impressive character" of the nominees. Following his departure from Barcelona in the summer of 2021, Messi was unable to imprint his brilliance on a PSG squad that was in desperate need of a Champions League victory. He only scored 11 goals for PSG in total, and the judges for the Ballon d'Or, which will be presented in Paris on October 17, were unimpressed by his mediocre club play. Also read | 'Looking forward to getting...' - Man United star Marcus Rashford clears the air about potential PSG transfer The rest of the nominations aren't particularly surprising. Karim Benzema, the French international striker who helped Real Madrid win their 14th Champions League title, is the clear favourite. He is joined on the 30-man roster by teammates Thibaut Courtois, Casemiro, 2018 winner Luka Modric, Vinicius, and former Chelsea star Antonio Rudiger. Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner for Manchester United, is nominated again this year. Liverpool has the most nominees of any club with seven players: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Diaz, Fabinho, Sadio Mane, who has since joined Bayern Munich, Darwin Nunez, Mohamed Salah, and Virgil Van Dijk. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION LIVE HERE: You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

A steep price for leaving Barcelona? Lionel Messi misses out on Ballon d'Or nomination

Former Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski has slammed the Bundesliga giants for 'lying' to the fans over his exit terms this summer. Lewandowski, who enjoyed a stunning 8-year spell at Bayern, left the German club this summer to secure a switch to Barcelona in a deal worth around 50 million euros.&nbsp;

Lewandowski had made it clear to Bayern this summer that he wanted to leave the club with FC Barcelona interested in his services. The Polish striker, who had one year left on his contract, was not willing to sign an extension and remained firm on leaving despite Bayern publically claiming he was not for sale.

The Polish striker, who played an instrumental role in Bayern Munich's success over the last few years, recently opened up on his move to Barcelona and denied the reports that he wanted to leave due to Erlin Haaland's potential arrival at the club. Norweigan striker Haaland was heavily linked with Bayern before completing a move to Manchester City earlier this summer.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wagatha-libel-case-coleen-rooney-triumphs-vs-fellow-england-football-wife-rebekah-vardy-501735">Wagatha libel case: Coleen Rooney triumphs vs fellow England football wife Rebekah Vardy</a>

"(My exit)&nbsp;had nothing to do with Erling [Haaland]," Lewandowski told ESPN when asked if Haaland's potential arrival was one of the reasons behind his departure from Bayern.&nbsp;

"I am the guy who even if something's not good for me -- truth is more important. I don't want to speak about what happened exactly. But if the question is if the decision to move was because of him, no, I didn't see the problem if he joined Bayern Munich," he added.

Lewandowski then went on to slam Bayern Munich for internal politics at the club and feeding wrong information to the fans about his move to Barcelona. The 33-year-old striker, who was one of the favourites to win the Ballon d'Or in 2020, said a lot of 'bullsh*t' was spoken about him by the club before his transfer to Barcelona.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cristiano-ronaldo-eager-to-exit-man-utd-to-not-lose-ucl-record-to-arch-rival-lionel-messi-report-501718">Cristiano Ronaldo eager to exit Man Utd to not lose UCL record to arch-rival Lionel Messi: Report</a>

"But some kind of people doesn't say to me the truth, say something different. And for me it was always important to be clear, to stay true, and maybe for a few people that was the problem. And in the end I know that something doesn't work well with my person as well and I knew that, OK I see and I feel that maybe it's a good time to move out of Bayern Munich and join Barcelona," Lewandowski told ESPN about his move.

"I had a very good relationship with my teammates, with the staff, with the coach, and these are all things I'm going to miss because I spent a beautiful time there. And we were not only friends from the pitch but also something more. But in the end this chapter is over and I open a new chapter in my life and a new chapter in my career.

"So I feel that I'm in the right position, right place. So everything that's happened in the last maybe few weeks before I left Bayern Munich, that was also of course a lot of politics. The club tried to find an argument why they can sell me to another club because before it was difficult to explain maybe to the fans. And I had to accept that even though it was a lot of bullsh*t, a lot of sh*t said about me. Not true, but in the end I knew that the fans, even in this period, still support me a lot," he added.

Former Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski has slammed the Bundesliga giants for 'lying' to the fans over his exit terms this summer. Lewandowski, who enjoyed a stunning 8-year spell at Bayern, left the German club this summer to secure a switch to Barcelona in a deal worth around 50 million euros.

Former Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski has slammed the Bundesliga giants for 'lying' to the fans over his exit terms this summer. Lewandowski, who enjoyed a stunning 8-year spell at Bayern, left the German club this summer to secure a switch to Barcelona in a deal worth around 50 million euros. Lewandowski had made it clear to Bayern this summer that he wanted to leave the club with FC Barcelona interested in his services. The Polish striker, who had one year left on his contract, was not willing to sign an extension and remained firm on leaving despite Bayern publically claiming he was not for sale. The Polish striker, who played an instrumental role in Bayern Munich's success over the last few years, recently opened up on his move to Barcelona and denied the reports that he wanted to leave due to Erlin Haaland's potential arrival at the club. Norweigan striker Haaland was heavily linked with Bayern before completing a move to Manchester City earlier this summer. Also Read: Wagatha libel case: Coleen Rooney triumphs vs fellow England football wife Rebekah Vardy "(My exit) had nothing to do with Erling [Haaland]," Lewandowski told ESPN when asked if Haaland's potential arrival was one of the reasons behind his departure from Bayern. "I am the guy who even if something's not good for me -- truth is more important. I don't want to speak about what happened exactly. But if the question is if the decision to move was because of him, no, I didn't see the problem if he joined Bayern Munich," he added. Lewandowski then went on to slam Bayern Munich for internal politics at the club and feeding wrong information to the fans about his move to Barcelona. The 33-year-old striker, who was one of the favourites to win the Ballon d'Or in 2020, said a lot of 'bullsh*t' was spoken about him by the club before his transfer to Barcelona. Also Read: Cristiano Ronaldo eager to exit Man Utd to not lose UCL record to arch-rival Lionel Messi: Report "But some kind of people doesn't say to me the truth, say something different. And for me it was always important to be clear, to stay true, and maybe for a few people that was the problem. And in the end I know that something doesn't work well with my person as well and I knew that, OK I see and I feel that maybe it's a good time to move out of Bayern Munich and join Barcelona," Lewandowski told ESPN about his move. "I had a very good relationship with my teammates, with the staff, with the coach, and these are all things I'm going to miss because I spent a beautiful time there. And we were not only friends from the pitch but also something more. But in the end this chapter is over and I open a new chapter in my life and a new chapter in my career. "So I feel that I'm in the right position, right place. So everything that's happened in the last maybe few weeks before I left Bayern Munich, that was also of course a lot of politics. The club tried to find an argument why they can sell me to another club because before it was difficult to explain maybe to the fans. And I had to accept that even though it was a lot of bullsh*t, a lot of sh*t said about me. Not true, but in the end I knew that the fans, even in this period, still support me a lot," he added.

'A lot of sh*t was said about me': Robert Lewandowski lashes out at Bayern Munich after joining Barcelona

Cristiano Ronaldo arrived in Manchester and joined the Manchester United camp on Tuesday (July 26). The superstar footballer touched down in Manchester along with his superagent&nbsp;Jorge Mendes to hold talks with new manager Erik ten Hag regarding his future with the Red Devils, ahead of the commencement of the new EPL season.

As per various reports, Ronaldo is eager to cut short his stay at the premier club -- with one year still remaining in his contract -- after the Red Devils failed to make a mark in the last EPL season, ending sixth and missing out on Champions League football for the 2022/23 season. Thus, Ronaldo is eager to be associated with a club where he can compete in the Champions League and, hence, the 37-year-old isn't happy with how things have panned out for him in his ongoing second innings at the club. Thus, reports suggest that the Portuguese captain has&nbsp;handed in a transfer request. His absence from Man United's pre-season tour of Bangkok and Australia for personal reasons&nbsp;further raised speculations of his exit.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cristiano-ronaldo-transfer-saga-striker-reaches-england-likely-to-hold-talks-with-man-united-over-his-future-500775">Cristiano Ronaldo transfer saga: Striker reaches England, likely to hold talks with Man United over his future</a>

On Tuesday, Ronaldo held his future talks with Erik and it was rumoured that Sir Alex Ferguson, former boss of Man United, was also part of the meeting. However,&nbsp;here's the truth behind all such claims.

CEO Richard Arnold and Sir Ferguson were present&nbsp;at Carrington but for different reasons.&nbsp;The Manchester Evening News reveals that&nbsp;Arnold's visit was a pre-planned affair and had nothing to do with being part of the meeting involving Ronaldo. On the other hand, Ferguson was present for a football board meeting.&nbsp;

Ferguson had played a part in convincing Ronaldo to return to the Old Trafford club last year, when there were speculations of him joining Manchester City from Juventus. Ever since Ronaldo's transfer saga started making the headlines, many clubs such as Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Athletico Madrid, PSG, etc. have been reported to have held talks with his agent. However, there is no strong taker for Ronaldo till now due to financial constraints or other reasons.

Will Ronaldo stay firm at Man United? Only time will tell...&nbsp;

Cristiano Ronaldo arrived in Manchester and joined the Manchester United camp on Tuesday (July 26). The superstar footballer touched down in Manchester along with his superagent Jorge Mendes to hold talks with new manager Erik ten Hag regarding his future with the Red Devils, ahead of the commencement of the new EPL season.

Cristiano Ronaldo arrived in Manchester and joined the Manchester United camp on Tuesday (July 26). The superstar footballer touched down in Manchester along with his superagent Jorge Mendes to hold talks with new manager Erik ten Hag regarding his future with the Red Devils, ahead of the commencement of the new EPL season. As per various reports, Ronaldo is eager to cut short his stay at the premier club -- with one year still remaining in his contract -- after the Red Devils failed to make a mark in the last EPL season, ending sixth and missing out on Champions League football for the 2022/23 season. Thus, Ronaldo is eager to be associated with a club where he can compete in the Champions League and, hence, the 37-year-old isn't happy with how things have panned out for him in his ongoing second innings at the club. Thus, reports suggest that the Portuguese captain has handed in a transfer request. His absence from Man United's pre-season tour of Bangkok and Australia for personal reasons further raised speculations of his exit. ALSO READ | Cristiano Ronaldo transfer saga: Striker reaches England, likely to hold talks with Man United over his future On Tuesday, Ronaldo held his future talks with Erik and it was rumoured that Sir Alex Ferguson, former boss of Man United, was also part of the meeting. However, here's the truth behind all such claims. CEO Richard Arnold and Sir Ferguson were present at Carrington but for different reasons. The Manchester Evening News reveals that Arnold's visit was a pre-planned affair and had nothing to do with being part of the meeting involving Ronaldo. On the other hand, Ferguson was present for a football board meeting. Ferguson had played a part in convincing Ronaldo to return to the Old Trafford club last year, when there were speculations of him joining Manchester City from Juventus. Ever since Ronaldo's transfer saga started making the headlines, many clubs such as Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Athletico Madrid, PSG, etc. have been reported to have held talks with his agent. However, there is no strong taker for Ronaldo till now due to financial constraints or other reasons. Will Ronaldo stay firm at Man United? Only time will tell...

Was Alex Ferguson part of Ronaldo's meeting with Ten Hag over his Man UTD future? Here's the truth

Marvel Studios' new trailer of much-anticipated 'Black Widow' takes fans on a trip to the past into Natasha Romanoff's journey.

The new trailer also plays on fans' nostalgia as the trailer has some major Avengers vibes,&nbsp;from the flashbacks with her and the Avengers to the actual score used in this trailer. 
 
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Fp9pNPdNwjI" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe> &nbsp;

The trailer starts off with a voiceover from Natasha,&nbsp;&nbsp;as flashbacks to previous movies play, where she alludes to some unfinished business and secrets from her past.&nbsp;The clip shows Scarlett Johansson's character confronting her tumultuous past and mending her old relationships, all while being pursued by an unstoppable villain.

The film takes place after Captain America: Civil War, where we find Natasha on the run from the government as she deals with her history as a spy, as well as her broken relationships before she became an Avenger.

Black Widow will be released both in theatres and on Disney+ with Premier Access on July 9.

The forthcoming feature was helmed by Berlin Syndrome director Cate Shortland and chronologically takes place after the events of Captain America: Civil War.

A series of clips from older entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe are shown while the superheroine is heard recalling that she had a difficult time 'choosing between what the world wants you to be and what you are.' 
 
'Black Widow'&nbsp;will be released both in theatres and on Disney+ with Premier Access on July 9. 
&nbsp;

Marvel Studios' new trailer of much-anticipated 'Black Widow' takes fans on a trip to the past into Natasha Romanoff's journey. The new trailer also plays on fans' nostalgia as the trailer has some major Avengers vibes, from the flashbacks with her and the Avengers to the actual score used in this trailer.

Marvel Studios' new trailer of much-anticipated 'Black Widow' takes fans on a trip to the past into Natasha Romanoff's journey. The new trailer also plays on fans' nostalgia as the trailer has some major Avengers vibes, from the flashbacks with her and the Avengers to the actual score used in this trailer. The trailer starts off with a voiceover from Natasha, as flashbacks to previous movies play, where she alludes to some unfinished business and secrets from her past. The clip shows Scarlett Johansson's character confronting her tumultuous past and mending her old relationships, all while being pursued by an unstoppable villain. The film takes place after Captain America: Civil War, where we find Natasha on the run from the government as she deals with her history as a spy, as well as her broken relationships before she became an Avenger. Black Widow will be released both in theatres and on Disney+ with Premier Access on July 9. The forthcoming feature was helmed by Berlin Syndrome director Cate Shortland and chronologically takes place after the events of Captain America: Civil War. A series of clips from older entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe are shown while the superheroine is heard recalling that she had a difficult time 'choosing between what the world wants you to be and what you are.' 'Black Widow' will be released both in theatres and on Disney+ with Premier Access on July 9.

‘We will see’: After Laporta, Barcelona head coach Xavi opens up on Lionel Messi's return to club

FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta claimed Lionel Messi's historic chapter at the club is not over yet when asked about the possibility of bringing him back to the club. One of the greatest players to have played for Barcelona, Messi had joined the Spanish club's famed La Masia academy at the tender age of 13 and rose through the ranks to play for the senior team.

Messi went on to become one of the legends of the game at Barcelona and played an instrumental role in helping the club dominate Europe. Messi made his first-team debut for Barcelona in 2005/06 season and went on to feature in 16 straight seasons for the club helping them win numerous trophies and accolades.

The 34-year-old had to leave as a free agent last summer after Barcelona failed to offer him a new contract due to La Liga rules and their poor financial situation. It brought an end to Messi's glorious spell at the club as he joined Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) where he currently has a year left on his contract.

Messi had even offered to reduce his salary to sign a new contract at FC Barcelona last year but he had to be let go due to financial constraints. Nonetheless, Barcelona president Laporta has claimed Messi's grand chapter at Barcelona is not over yet and that there is a distinct possibility that the Argentine will return to the club in the future.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/atletico-madrid-willing-to-part-ways-with-antoine-griezmann-for-mega-cristiano-ronaldo-move-report-500199">Atletico Madrid willing to part ways with Antoine Griezmann for mega Cristiano Ronaldo move - Report</a>

“Messi has been everything. For Barca, he has possibly been the best player in history, the most efficient, only comparable to Johan Cruyff in the history of Barca. But it had to happen one day, we had to make a decision as a consequence of the legacy we had received, the institution is above players and coaches," Laporta was quoted as saying by ESPN.

“I don't believe Messi's chapter at Barcelona is over. And I believe it is our responsibility to make sure that chapter is still open, that it hasn't closed. To have a moment to do it how it should have been done so that he may have a much more splendid ending than what he had," he added.

Laporta said as the president of the club he feels he 'owes' a return to the cub to Messi, who was ready to sign a new contract last year after his previous contract expired but couldn't due to the club's dire financial situation. Messi's exit had come as a shock to many, including some of his teammates but it exposed Barcelona's financial situation.

“Do I feel like I owe him one? Yes. Morally, as the president of Barcelona, I think I did what needed to be done. But also as Barcelona's president, and personally, I believe I owe him one," said Laporta on the chances of bringing Messi back to the Catalan club in order to give him a farewell he deserves.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/thought-someone-hacked-barcelonas-account-sergio-aguero-opens-up-on-lionel-messis-exit-from-barca-499219">'Thought someone hacked Barcelona's account': Sergio Aguero opens up on Lionel Messi's exit from Barca</a>

Messi, a 7-time Ballon d'Or winner scored a whopping 672 goals for Barcelona in a total of 778 appearances for&nbsp;the club across competitions. He inspired the club to a staggering 10 La Liga and 4 Champions League crowns while also clinching a plethora of individual honours.

FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta claimed Lionel Messi's historic chapter at the club is not over yet when asked about the possibility of bringing him back to the club.

FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta claimed Lionel Messi's historic chapter at the club is not over yet when asked about the possibility of bringing him back to the club. One of the greatest players to have played for Barcelona, Messi had joined the Spanish club's famed La Masia academy at the tender age of 13 and rose through the ranks to play for the senior team. Messi went on to become one of the legends of the game at Barcelona and played an instrumental role in helping the club dominate Europe. Messi made his first-team debut for Barcelona in 2005/06 season and went on to feature in 16 straight seasons for the club helping them win numerous trophies and accolades. The 34-year-old had to leave as a free agent last summer after Barcelona failed to offer him a new contract due to La Liga rules and their poor financial situation. It brought an end to Messi's glorious spell at the club as he joined Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) where he currently has a year left on his contract. Messi had even offered to reduce his salary to sign a new contract at FC Barcelona last year but he had to be let go due to financial constraints. Nonetheless, Barcelona president Laporta has claimed Messi's grand chapter at Barcelona is not over yet and that there is a distinct possibility that the Argentine will return to the club in the future. Also Read: Atletico Madrid willing to part ways with Antoine Griezmann for mega Cristiano Ronaldo move - Report “Messi has been everything. For Barca, he has possibly been the best player in history, the most efficient, only comparable to Johan Cruyff in the history of Barca. But it had to happen one day, we had to make a decision as a consequence of the legacy we had received, the institution is above players and coaches," Laporta was quoted as saying by ESPN. “I don't believe Messi's chapter at Barcelona is over. And I believe it is our responsibility to make sure that chapter is still open, that it hasn't closed. To have a moment to do it how it should have been done so that he may have a much more splendid ending than what he had," he added. Laporta said as the president of the club he feels he 'owes' a return to the cub to Messi, who was ready to sign a new contract last year after his previous contract expired but couldn't due to the club's dire financial situation. Messi's exit had come as a shock to many, including some of his teammates but it exposed Barcelona's financial situation. “Do I feel like I owe him one? Yes. Morally, as the president of Barcelona, I think I did what needed to be done. But also as Barcelona's president, and personally, I believe I owe him one," said Laporta on the chances of bringing Messi back to the Catalan club in order to give him a farewell he deserves. Also Read: 'Thought someone hacked Barcelona's account': Sergio Aguero opens up on Lionel Messi's exit from Barca Messi, a 7-time Ballon d'Or winner scored a whopping 672 goals for Barcelona in a total of 778 appearances for the club across competitions. He inspired the club to a staggering 10 La Liga and 4 Champions League crowns while also clinching a plethora of individual honours.

'Lionel Messi's chapter at Barcelona not over': Club president Laporta makes bold claim on Argentine's return

Cristiano Ronaldo's stint at Manchester United is all set to come to an abrupt end as the Portuguese superstar is reportedly looking to leave the club this summer. Ronaldo reportedly wants to join a club competing in the Champions League next season and add to his illustrious trophy cabinet as he feels United are not yet in a position to challenge for trophies next season after enduring a horrible campaign last season.

Ronaldo is also reportedly not happy with United's transfer business so far in the ongoing summer window and wants the club to show more ambition amid rivals Manchester City and Liverpool strengthening their already strong squads. Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes is already looking for potential clubs who can sign the Portuguese ahead of the next season.

Mendes had reportedly met Chelsea's new owner Todd Boehly recently where a potential move for Ronaldo was discussed. The Portuguese agent also met with high-profile officials at FC Barcelona to discuss the future of several players, including Ronaldo. Barcelona have been linked with a move for Ronaldo despite the Portuguese being a bonafide legend of arch-rivals Real Madrid.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-united-captain-harry-maguire-likes-post-about-cristiano-ronaldo-being-upset-over-pay-cut-at-club-495013">Man Utd&nbsp;captain Harry Maguire likes post about Cristiano Ronaldo being upset over pay cut at club</a>

FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta was asked about the possibility of signing Ronaldo and his talks with Mendes about the Portuguese star in their recent meeting during the press conference to unveil the signing of midfielder Franck Kessie. Mendes said he would not want to speak much as Ronaldo is still a United player but it was interesting for him to know that the legendary forward is in the market this summer.

"I had dinner on Monday with Jorge Mendes and we talked about the market in general. Cristiano? I'm not going to talk about the players who came out of the meeting, but it's always interesting to know how some names are on the market," said Mendes at the presser.

"I'm not going to talk about players in one way or another, it could be misunderstood. It doesn't contribute anything to the interests of Barca. We have to respect the players who have contracts with other teams," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/premier-league-footballer-faces-two-more-rape-allegations-after-being-arrested-on-suspicion-of-rape-494780">Premier League footballer faces two more rape allegations after being arrested on suspicion of rape</a>

Barcelona are also currently in talks with Manchester United over the transfer of Dutch midfielder Frenkie De Jong. While Laporta has constantly maintained De Jong is not for sale, several reports have claimed that Barcelona have already agreed a fee with United&nbsp;for the transfer of the talented midfielder and are willing to let him leave this summer. 
&nbsp;

Cristiano Ronaldo's stint at Manchester United is all set to come to an abrupt end as the Portuguese superstar is reportedly looking to leave the club this summer.

Cristiano Ronaldo's stint at Manchester United is all set to come to an abrupt end as the Portuguese superstar is reportedly looking to leave the club this summer. Ronaldo reportedly wants to join a club competing in the Champions League next season and add to his illustrious trophy cabinet as he feels United are not yet in a position to challenge for trophies next season after enduring a horrible campaign last season. Ronaldo is also reportedly not happy with United's transfer business so far in the ongoing summer window and wants the club to show more ambition amid rivals Manchester City and Liverpool strengthening their already strong squads. Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes is already looking for potential clubs who can sign the Portuguese ahead of the next season. Mendes had reportedly met Chelsea's new owner Todd Boehly recently where a potential move for Ronaldo was discussed. The Portuguese agent also met with high-profile officials at FC Barcelona to discuss the future of several players, including Ronaldo. Barcelona have been linked with a move for Ronaldo despite the Portuguese being a bonafide legend of arch-rivals Real Madrid. Also Read: Man Utd captain Harry Maguire likes post about Cristiano Ronaldo being upset over pay cut at club FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta was asked about the possibility of signing Ronaldo and his talks with Mendes about the Portuguese star in their recent meeting during the press conference to unveil the signing of midfielder Franck Kessie. Mendes said he would not want to speak much as Ronaldo is still a United player but it was interesting for him to know that the legendary forward is in the market this summer. "I had dinner on Monday with Jorge Mendes and we talked about the market in general. Cristiano? I'm not going to talk about the players who came out of the meeting, but it's always interesting to know how some names are on the market," said Mendes at the presser. "I'm not going to talk about players in one way or another, it could be misunderstood. It doesn't contribute anything to the interests of Barca. We have to respect the players who have contracts with other teams," he added. Also Read: Premier League footballer faces two more rape allegations after being arrested on suspicion of rape Barcelona are also currently in talks with Manchester United over the transfer of Dutch midfielder Frenkie De Jong. While Laporta has constantly maintained De Jong is not for sale, several reports have claimed that Barcelona have already agreed a fee with United for the transfer of the talented midfielder and are willing to let him leave this summer.

Can Cristiano Ronaldo join FC Barcelona? Club president Joan Laporta responds to transfer speculations

Ivory Coast midfielder Franck Kessie said the opportunity of playing under the guidance of manager Xavi Hernandez was crucial in his decision to join Barcelona on a free transfer after leaving AC Milan.

"When a great coach like him calls you, you see that all your efforts are worth it," Kessie told a news conference on Wednesday after signing a contract until June 2026.

"I am very happy to be part of this family and this great club. I really want to meet my teammates and coaching staff and start working right away."

The 25-year-old left AC Milan at the end of his contract in June after helping the Italian club to win their first Serie A title in 11 years last season. He has 58 caps for Ivory Coast.

Kessie, who can contribute in attack and defence as a box-to-box midfielder, said he did not have a preferred position on the pitch and was open to helping his team wherever his coach needed.

"I am at Xavi`s disposal, he will be the one who will decide my position here at Barca. I will work to offer my best version wherever I am. When a player starts playing, he never gets worse. We are always trying to improve," Kessie said.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-united-captain-harry-maguire-likes-post-about-cristiano-ronaldo-being-upset-over-pay-cut-at-club-495013">Man Utd&nbsp;captain Harry Maguire likes post about Cristiano Ronaldo being upset over pay cut at club</a>

Barca also announced the signing of Denmark defender and free agent Andreas Christensen, who will join the club on a free transfer from Chelsea. Club president Joan Laporta, who inherited a deep financial crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic after he was elected last year for a second stint, said the team were looking for more players who "really want to play for Barcelona".

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/will-neymar-leave-psg-this-summer-new-manager-christophe-galtier-responds-to-speculations-494756">Will Neymar leave PSG this summer? New manager Christophe Galtier responds to speculations</a>

Restricted by LaLiga`s Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, Barca are struggling to sign new players.

"I can`t say how many more signings we`ll be able to make," Laporta told the news conference, explaining that they need to activate measures approved last month to improve the club`s financial situation. It will not be easy but we need to reinforce the first team to be more competitive.

"We are in a situation of uncertainty. We are working to be able to sign. At this time we still can`t. We are talking to players we are interested in and ask them to wait for us."

Ivory Coast midfielder Franck Kessie said the opportunity of playing under the guidance of manager Xavi Hernandez was crucial in his decision to join Barcelona on a free transfer after leaving AC Milan.

Ivory Coast midfielder Franck Kessie said the opportunity of playing under the guidance of manager Xavi Hernandez was crucial in his decision to join Barcelona on a free transfer after leaving AC Milan. "When a great coach like him calls you, you see that all your efforts are worth it," Kessie told a news conference on Wednesday after signing a contract until June 2026. "I am very happy to be part of this family and this great club. I really want to meet my teammates and coaching staff and start working right away." The 25-year-old left AC Milan at the end of his contract in June after helping the Italian club to win their first Serie A title in 11 years last season. He has 58 caps for Ivory Coast. Kessie, who can contribute in attack and defence as a box-to-box midfielder, said he did not have a preferred position on the pitch and was open to helping his team wherever his coach needed. "I am at Xavi`s disposal, he will be the one who will decide my position here at Barca. I will work to offer my best version wherever I am. When a player starts playing, he never gets worse. We are always trying to improve," Kessie said. Also Read: Man Utd captain Harry Maguire likes post about Cristiano Ronaldo being upset over pay cut at club Barca also announced the signing of Denmark defender and free agent Andreas Christensen, who will join the club on a free transfer from Chelsea. Club president Joan Laporta, who inherited a deep financial crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic after he was elected last year for a second stint, said the team were looking for more players who "really want to play for Barcelona". Also Read: Will Neymar leave PSG this summer? New manager Christophe Galtier responds to speculations Restricted by LaLiga`s Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, Barca are struggling to sign new players. "I can`t say how many more signings we`ll be able to make," Laporta told the news conference, explaining that they need to activate measures approved last month to improve the club`s financial situation. It will not be easy but we need to reinforce the first team to be more competitive. "We are in a situation of uncertainty. We are working to be able to sign. At this time we still can`t. We are talking to players we are interested in and ask them to wait for us."

Franck Kessie says playing for Xavi was key factor in decision to join FC Barcelona

There has been a lot said and written about Cristiano Ronaldo's days in Manchester United. While first it was confirmed by Ronaldo himself that he is very keen on staying back and leading the club to glory in the next few seasons, the situation has turned upside down ever since.&nbsp;

Recently, it was revealed that Ronaldo has shown interest in moving to Chelsea after requesting to leave Man United. However, now another report have emerged regarding the superstar footballer's likely move out of the Red Devils' camp.&nbsp;

For the unversed, Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes has reportedly held talks with Bayern Munich as well as with Chelsea over his client's potential transfer this summer. Nonetheless, some reports have also claimed that Mendes has also&nbsp;met with Barcelona FC President Joan Laporta. The report of Mendes meeting Laporta was first reported&nbsp;by the Spanish publication AS.&nbsp;While nothing is official yet, his agent's meeting with the Barca president has led to widespread reaction as the club is the&nbsp;biggest rival of Real Madrid, where&nbsp;Ronaldo played for 9 years. In addition,&nbsp;the Portuguese captain's arch-rival Lionel Messi&nbsp;played most of his club football with Barcelona (for as many as 16 straight seasons, from 2005/06-2020/21).

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-united-set-to-sign-christian-eriksen-on-free-transfer-after-midfielder-agrees-3-year-deal-494409">Manchester United set to sign Christian Eriksen on free transfer after midfielder agrees 3-year deal</a>

Man United, under new manager&nbsp;Erik ten Hag, is aiming to revamp the whole squad before the new season. However, their lack of signings reportedly disappointed Ronaldo to start looking elsewhere and bring curtains to his second innings with the Red Devils. On Monday (July 04), as per&nbsp;Sky Sports, Man United are set to offer Christian Eriksen a three-year deal after the Danish football player&nbsp;agreed in principle to sign&nbsp;for the club. However, the 30-year-old midfielder will still have to agree to the personal terms with the Red Devils before he goes through a medical to finalise his move.

While Eriksen looks set to join the premier club, Ronaldo is likely to make a move after rejoining the team last year from Juventus.

There has been a lot said and written about Cristiano Ronaldo's days in Manchester United. While first it was confirmed by Ronaldo himself that he is very keen on staying back and leading the club to glory in the next few seasons, the situation has turned upside down ever since.

There has been a lot said and written about Cristiano Ronaldo's days in Manchester United. While first it was confirmed by Ronaldo himself that he is very keen on staying back and leading the club to glory in the next few seasons, the situation has turned upside down ever since. Recently, it was revealed that Ronaldo has shown interest in moving to Chelsea after requesting to leave Man United. However, now another report have emerged regarding the superstar footballer's likely move out of the Red Devils' camp. For the unversed, Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes has reportedly held talks with Bayern Munich as well as with Chelsea over his client's potential transfer this summer. Nonetheless, some reports have also claimed that Mendes has also met with Barcelona FC President Joan Laporta. The report of Mendes meeting Laporta was first reported by the Spanish publication AS. While nothing is official yet, his agent's meeting with the Barca president has led to widespread reaction as the club is the biggest rival of Real Madrid, where Ronaldo played for 9 years. In addition, the Portuguese captain's arch-rival Lionel Messi played most of his club football with Barcelona (for as many as 16 straight seasons, from 2005/06-2020/21). ALSO READ | Manchester United set to sign Christian Eriksen on free transfer after midfielder agrees 3-year deal Man United, under new manager Erik ten Hag, is aiming to revamp the whole squad before the new season. However, their lack of signings reportedly disappointed Ronaldo to start looking elsewhere and bring curtains to his second innings with the Red Devils. On Monday (July 04), as per Sky Sports, Man United are set to offer Christian Eriksen a three-year deal after the Danish football player agreed in principle to sign for the club. However, the 30-year-old midfielder will still have to agree to the personal terms with the Red Devils before he goes through a medical to finalise his move. While Eriksen looks set to join the premier club, Ronaldo is likely to make a move after rejoining the team last year from Juventus.

Cristiano Ronaldo's agent meets Barcelona president as rumours of him leaving Man Utd increases: Report

Erik Ten Hag's arrival at Manchester United as their new manager has brought in a sense of optimism at the club following a horrendous campaign last season. United failed to secure a spot in the Champions League for the upcoming season after failing to grab a spot in the top four in what was a disappointing campaign for the Red Devils. United are now looking to strengthen their&nbsp;squad ahead of the new season and midfield remains one of the areas of concern for the club.

United had sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as their manager midway through their campaign last season before appointing Ralf Rangnick in an interim role. However, the German failed to change their fortunes as United ended up missing out on a spot in the top four to finish a lowly sixth.

However, United are determined to move on from the horrors of the season gone by and focus on bringing in reinforcements ahead of the new season. Netherlands midfielder Frenkie de Jong has emerged as United's first-choice midfield target this summer and the club are have been involved in negotiations with FC Barcelona for a while now.

The Barcelona star was reportedly initially reluctant on a move but has now agreed to make a switch to Old Trafford from the Camp Nou. However, Barcelona and Manchester United are yet to agree on the final fee for the Dutch midfielder and remain around 10-15 million Euros apart in their valuation, as per a report in The Athletic.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bayern-munich-agree-deal-to-sign-liverpool-star-sadio-mane-reports-489324">Bayern Munich agree deal to sign Liverpool star Sadio Mane - Reports</a>

The report further claims that Manchester United are involved in a 'poker' game with FC Barcelona over the signing of De Jong, who is clearly wanted by Ten Hag. However, there remains optimism that the move will eventually happen. As per the report, well-placed sources at United believe De Jong's move to England will ultimately happen this summer.

However, United's new boss Ten Hag has reportedly been growing frustrated with the club's inefficiency in closing out the deal as they are just a few weeks away from the start of the pre-season. Ten Hag is aware of United's budget constraints but wants De Jong to be part of the pre-season in order to execute his plans ahead of the new season.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/robert-lewandowski-to-frenkie-de-jong-5-biggest-football-transfers-that-can-happen-this-summer-481077">Robert Lewandowski to Frenkie De Jong: 5 biggest football transfers that can happen this summer</a>

Apart from De Jong, United have been linked with a number of other midfielders, including Denmark's Christian Eriksen, who is a free agent at present. United are also looking to strengthen their defence and attack after letting go of a number of players this summer in the form of the likes of Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata among others.

Erik Ten Hag's arrival at Manchester United as their new manager has brought in a sense of optimism at the club following a horrendous campaign last season. United failed to secure a spot in the Champions League for the upcoming season after failing to grab a spot in the top four in what was a disappointing campaign for the Red Devils.

Erik Ten Hag's arrival at Manchester United as their new manager has brought in a sense of optimism at the club following a horrendous campaign last season. United failed to secure a spot in the Champions League for the upcoming season after failing to grab a spot in the top four in what was a disappointing campaign for the Red Devils. United are now looking to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season and midfield remains one of the areas of concern for the club. United had sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as their manager midway through their campaign last season before appointing Ralf Rangnick in an interim role. However, the German failed to change their fortunes as United ended up missing out on a spot in the top four to finish a lowly sixth. However, United are determined to move on from the horrors of the season gone by and focus on bringing in reinforcements ahead of the new season. Netherlands midfielder Frenkie de Jong has emerged as United's first-choice midfield target this summer and the club are have been involved in negotiations with FC Barcelona for a while now. The Barcelona star was reportedly initially reluctant on a move but has now agreed to make a switch to Old Trafford from the Camp Nou. However, Barcelona and Manchester United are yet to agree on the final fee for the Dutch midfielder and remain around 10-15 million Euros apart in their valuation, as per a report in The Athletic. Also Read: Bayern Munich agree deal to sign Liverpool star Sadio Mane - Reports The report further claims that Manchester United are involved in a 'poker' game with FC Barcelona over the signing of De Jong, who is clearly wanted by Ten Hag. However, there remains optimism that the move will eventually happen. As per the report, well-placed sources at United believe De Jong's move to England will ultimately happen this summer. However, United's new boss Ten Hag has reportedly been growing frustrated with the club's inefficiency in closing out the deal as they are just a few weeks away from the start of the pre-season. Ten Hag is aware of United's budget constraints but wants De Jong to be part of the pre-season in order to execute his plans ahead of the new season. Also Read: Robert Lewandowski to Frenkie De Jong: 5 biggest football transfers that can happen this summer Apart from De Jong, United have been linked with a number of other midfielders, including Denmark's Christian Eriksen, who is a free agent at present. United are also looking to strengthen their defence and attack after letting go of a number of players this summer in the form of the likes of Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata among others.

Manchester United involved in 'poker' game with Barcelona for Frenkie De Jong - Report

Taking a cue from other nations in Europe, now Spain looks to install sound level monitors at 11 areas in Barcelona city. It is a major tourist destination and has several streets and plazas, which can get noisy at times. Now, it looks to check the troubling trend. Barcelona city councillor for climate emergency and ecological transition, Eloi Badia, said, “It’s an absolute priority. Noise pollution – with all of its sleep disorders, pathologies and stress – is one of the most important public health issues we have in the city, second only to air pollution.” &nbsp;

After the installation, the officials will check the level of the sound at the locations of the monitors. The acceptable decibel limits for any area may vary on several factors like the width of the street or the distribution of buildings.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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“If the limits are exceeded during two consecutive weekends, the area will be confirmed as acoustically stressed. In that case, the district will have to present an action plan that can be worked on with neighbours, restaurants and others to try to mitigate the damage that is being done. Our goal is to have a much quieter, more peaceful and friendly city,” Badia said. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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Taking a cue from other nations in Europe, now Spain looks to install sound level monitors at 11 areas in Barcelona city. It is a major tourist destination and has several streets and plazas, which can get noisy at times.

Taking a cue from other nations in Europe, now Spain looks to install sound level monitors at 11 areas in Barcelona city. It is a major tourist destination and has several streets and plazas, which can get noisy at times. Now, it looks to check the troubling trend. Barcelona city councillor for climate emergency and ecological transition, Eloi Badia, said, “It’s an absolute priority. Noise pollution – with all of its sleep disorders, pathologies and stress – is one of the most important public health issues we have in the city, second only to air pollution.” After the installation, the officials will check the level of the sound at the locations of the monitors. The acceptable decibel limits for any area may vary on several factors like the width of the street or the distribution of buildings. Watch WION's live TV here: “If the limits are exceeded during two consecutive weekends, the area will be confirmed as acoustically stressed. In that case, the district will have to present an action plan that can be worked on with neighbours, restaurants and others to try to mitigate the damage that is being done. Our goal is to have a much quieter, more peaceful and friendly city,” Badia said. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Let there be silence! Spain to check noise pollution by installing sound level monitors in Barcelona city

FC Barcelona are&nbsp;one of the most successful clubs in the history of football. The Spanish giants have not only been a force to reckon with in the La Liga but have also dominated European football for decades. Some of the greatest footballers of all time have donned the Barcelona jersey and have played for the Blaugrana. However, FC Barcelona currently find themselves&nbsp;in a massive financial mess.

Barcelona are debt-ridden and are facing one of their worst-ever financial crunches. The situation is a dire one and the club's vice-president&nbsp;Eduard Romeu has claimed they need at least 500 million Euros in order 'to save the club' this year. Barcelona are seriously strapped for cash and have not been able to fund big signings.

One of the most valuable clubs in the world, Barcelona were once known as a huge spender in the transfer market. They have signed the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Antoine Greizmann and Philippe Coutinho among others, who are some of the most expensive footballers of all time. Barcelona also had Lionel Messi in their squad until 2021 and he was one of the highest-paid footballers in the world at the time.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/liverpool-star-mohamed-salah-and-chelseas-sam-kerr-win-pfa-player-of-the-year-awards-486827">&nbsp;Liverpool star Mohamed Salah and Chelsea's Sam Kerr win PFA Player of the Year awards</a>

However, the club is no more stable financially and have had to let go of a number of superstars due to the crunch. Some of the star players like Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Gerard Pique also had to take pay cuts last season as Barcelona struggled to match La Liga's salary cap requirements. Now the club's vice-president Romeu has said Barcelona need 500 million Euros to save themselves.&nbsp;

"The number doing the most damage is asset imbalance. The negative capital of €500 million. You could add €150m to that in losses this season if we didn’t do anything. I said it before, if someone wants give me €500 million... That is what we need to save Barca," Romeu told Spanish outlet Sport in an interview.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/robert-lewandowski-to-frenkie-de-jong-5-biggest-football-transfers-that-can-happen-this-summer-481077">Robert Lewandowski to Frenkie De Jong: 5 biggest football transfers that can happen this summer</a>

Barcelona's debt has reportedly reached a staggering 1 billion Euros. In October last year, it was reported that the club owed around 98 million Euros in fees to other clubs for player transfers. They are in a critical situation and might need to sell some more big names this season while expecting not too many significant arrivals at the Camp Nou this summer.

Among the top players who can be sold this summer is Dutch midfielder Frenkie De Jong, who has been heavily linked with Manchester United and is likely to be offloaded soon by the Spanish club, who are in desperate need of unds. United are expected to sign De Jong for around 70-80 million Euros, as per reports.

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FC Barcelona are one of the most successful clubs in the history of football. The Spanish giants have not only been a force to reckon with in the La Liga but have also dominated European football for decades.

FC Barcelona are one of the most successful clubs in the history of football. The Spanish giants have not only been a force to reckon with in the La Liga but have also dominated European football for decades. Some of the greatest footballers of all time have donned the Barcelona jersey and have played for the Blaugrana. However, FC Barcelona currently find themselves in a massive financial mess. Barcelona are debt-ridden and are facing one of their worst-ever financial crunches. The situation is a dire one and the club's vice-president Eduard Romeu has claimed they need at least 500 million Euros in order 'to save the club' this year. Barcelona are seriously strapped for cash and have not been able to fund big signings. One of the most valuable clubs in the world, Barcelona were once known as a huge spender in the transfer market. They have signed the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Antoine Greizmann and Philippe Coutinho among others, who are some of the most expensive footballers of all time. Barcelona also had Lionel Messi in their squad until 2021 and he was one of the highest-paid footballers in the world at the time. Also Read: Liverpool star Mohamed Salah and Chelsea's Sam Kerr win PFA Player of the Year awards However, the club is no more stable financially and have had to let go of a number of superstars due to the crunch. Some of the star players like Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Gerard Pique also had to take pay cuts last season as Barcelona struggled to match La Liga's salary cap requirements. Now the club's vice-president Romeu has said Barcelona need 500 million Euros to save themselves. "The number doing the most damage is asset imbalance. The negative capital of €500 million. You could add €150m to that in losses this season if we didn’t do anything. I said it before, if someone wants give me €500 million... That is what we need to save Barca," Romeu told Spanish outlet Sport in an interview. Also Read: Robert Lewandowski to Frenkie De Jong: 5 biggest football transfers that can happen this summer Barcelona's debt has reportedly reached a staggering 1 billion Euros. In October last year, it was reported that the club owed around 98 million Euros in fees to other clubs for player transfers. They are in a critical situation and might need to sell some more big names this season while expecting not too many significant arrivals at the Camp Nou this summer. Among the top players who can be sold this summer is Dutch midfielder Frenkie De Jong, who has been heavily linked with Manchester United and is likely to be offloaded soon by the Spanish club, who are in desperate need of unds. United are expected to sign De Jong for around 70-80 million Euros, as per reports.

We need 500 million Euros to save the club, claims FC Barcelona president as financial troubles mount

FC Barcelona star Gerard Pique and his singer wife Shakira recently confirmed thy are parting ways,&nbsp;bringing an end to their 12-year relationship. The announcement came after reports had gone viral claiming Pique was allegedly cheating on Shakira with another woman. Amid the allegations of infidelity, a Brazilian model has made some startling revelations against Pique and accused him of sending her lewd text messages behind Shakira's back.

As per a report published by Spanish newspaper Marca, Pique had allegedly sent some illicit messages to Brazilian model Suzy Cortez after meeting her through former FC Barcelona president Sandro Rosell. Rosell served as Barcelona's president from 2010 to 2014. The report also claimed that Pique was in direct contact with Cortez for a significant amount of time.

Cortez recently spoke to El Diario NY, a New York-based paper and revealed she had met Pique through Rosell, who was her friend. She went on to make some explosive revelations about the Spanish defender, alleging that he would regularly ask her when she was coming back to Europe and had also asked her about the size of her butt.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cristiano-ronaldos-mother-in-tears-after-her-son-scores-in-portugals-4-0-win-vs-switzerland-watch-485929">Ronaldo's mother in tears after her son scores in Portugal's 4-0 win vs Switzerland - Watch</a>

"I was a friend of the former president of Barcelona, Sandro Rosell. When Pique found out, he asked me for my number and sent me a message. When I returned to Brazil, he sent me a message directly on Instagram - which he deleted every day - asking me when would I return to Europe and always asking me how big my butt was," Cortez told El Diario, as quoted by Marca.

Cortez further also questioned the integrity of the entire Barcelona squad at the time and said there were only a couple of players who never sent her anything after meeting with her. The Brazilian model, who is a huge fan of Lionel Messi, said the Argentinian along with his Brazilian teammate Philippe Coutinho were the only players in the Barcelona squad who refrained from sending her lewd texts.

"He [Pique] was the one who sent me the most direct message. The only Barcelona players who never sent me anything were Messi and Coutinho. They are great husbands and respect their wives a lot," claimed Cortez.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/psg-superstar-kylian-mbappe-is-worlds-most-valuable-player-reveals-study-485908">PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe is world's most valuable player, reveals study</a>

FC Barcelona have been rocked once again by another controversy after allegations on Pique. The Spanish club and the footballer himself are yet to respond to the accusations after his separation from former partner Shakira. The ex-couple has a&nbsp;&nbsp;9-year-old son.

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FC Barcelona star Gerard Pique and his singer wife Shakira recently confirmed thy are parting ways, bringing an end to their 12-year relationship. The announcement came after reports had gone viral claiming Pique was allegedly cheating on Shakira with another woman.

FC Barcelona star Gerard Pique and his singer wife Shakira recently confirmed thy are parting ways, bringing an end to their 12-year relationship. The announcement came after reports had gone viral claiming Pique was allegedly cheating on Shakira with another woman. Amid the allegations of infidelity, a Brazilian model has made some startling revelations against Pique and accused him of sending her lewd text messages behind Shakira's back. As per a report published by Spanish newspaper Marca, Pique had allegedly sent some illicit messages to Brazilian model Suzy Cortez after meeting her through former FC Barcelona president Sandro Rosell. Rosell served as Barcelona's president from 2010 to 2014. The report also claimed that Pique was in direct contact with Cortez for a significant amount of time. Cortez recently spoke to El Diario NY, a New York-based paper and revealed she had met Pique through Rosell, who was her friend. She went on to make some explosive revelations about the Spanish defender, alleging that he would regularly ask her when she was coming back to Europe and had also asked her about the size of her butt. Also Read: Ronaldo's mother in tears after her son scores in Portugal's 4-0 win vs Switzerland - Watch "I was a friend of the former president of Barcelona, Sandro Rosell. When Pique found out, he asked me for my number and sent me a message. When I returned to Brazil, he sent me a message directly on Instagram - which he deleted every day - asking me when would I return to Europe and always asking me how big my butt was," Cortez told El Diario, as quoted by Marca. Cortez further also questioned the integrity of the entire Barcelona squad at the time and said there were only a couple of players who never sent her anything after meeting with her. The Brazilian model, who is a huge fan of Lionel Messi, said the Argentinian along with his Brazilian teammate Philippe Coutinho were the only players in the Barcelona squad who refrained from sending her lewd texts. "He [Pique] was the one who sent me the most direct message. The only Barcelona players who never sent me anything were Messi and Coutinho. They are great husbands and respect their wives a lot," claimed Cortez. Also Read: PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe is world's most valuable player, reveals study FC Barcelona have been rocked once again by another controversy after allegations on Pique. The Spanish club and the footballer himself are yet to respond to the accusations after his separation from former partner Shakira. The ex-couple has a 9-year-old son. ×

Messi & Coutinho only Barca players who didn't text me: Brazilian model makes startling claims about Pique

Every year wildfires tear down parts of Spain, it is like foreboding Flora and Livestock burn. Workers rescue those affected and then the process of rebuilding starts all over again. But this year Barcelona is preparing for wildfires with a pilot project

Barcelona's pilot scheme to fight wildfires

Goals from Alfonso Pedraza and Moi Gomez earned Villarreal a 2-0 win at Barcelona on Sunday to secure a spot in the Europa Conference League after finishing seventh in LaLiga. After reaching the Champions League semi-finals this season, knocking out former champions Juventus and Bayern Munich on the way, Unai Emery`s side entered the final week of the season in danger of missing out on European competition completely.

With the top six already determined, Villarreal started the day in seventh, one point ahead of Athletic Bilbao who were playing at fourth-placed Sevilla at the same time on Sunday. They needed to win at Camp Nou to guarantee qualification against a second-placed Barca side who had nothing left to play for and put up little fight.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/robert-lewandowski-to-frenkie-de-jong-5-biggest-football-transfers-that-can-happen-this-summer-481077">Robert Lewandowski to Frenkie De Jong: 5 biggest football transfers that can happen this summer</a>

Pedraza scored the opener in the 40th minute with a precise shot after receiving a fine through ball from Dani Parejo and Moi Gomez sealed the win in the 54th, striking powerfully home from close range after Adama Traore made a mistake while trying to clear the ball from his own area. Athletic ended up losing 1-0 to Sevilla to finish in eighth place, four points behind Villarreal.

Betis and Real Sociedad finished fifth and sixth to qualify for the Europa League. Champions Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico and Sevilla qualified for the Champions League. Alaves, Levante and Granada were relegated to the second division.

Goals from Alfonso Pedraza and Moi Gomez earned Villarreal a 2-0 win at Barcelona on Sunday to secure a spot in the Europa Conference League after finishing seventh in LaLiga.

Goals from Alfonso Pedraza and Moi Gomez earned Villarreal a 2-0 win at Barcelona on Sunday to secure a spot in the Europa Conference League after finishing seventh in LaLiga. After reaching the Champions League semi-finals this season, knocking out former champions Juventus and Bayern Munich on the way, Unai Emery`s side entered the final week of the season in danger of missing out on European competition completely. With the top six already determined, Villarreal started the day in seventh, one point ahead of Athletic Bilbao who were playing at fourth-placed Sevilla at the same time on Sunday. They needed to win at Camp Nou to guarantee qualification against a second-placed Barca side who had nothing left to play for and put up little fight. ALSO READ | Robert Lewandowski to Frenkie De Jong: 5 biggest football transfers that can happen this summer Pedraza scored the opener in the 40th minute with a precise shot after receiving a fine through ball from Dani Parejo and Moi Gomez sealed the win in the 54th, striking powerfully home from close range after Adama Traore made a mistake while trying to clear the ball from his own area. Athletic ended up losing 1-0 to Sevilla to finish in eighth place, four points behind Villarreal. Betis and Real Sociedad finished fifth and sixth to qualify for the Europa League. Champions Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico and Sevilla qualified for the Champions League. Alaves, Levante and Granada were relegated to the second division.

Villarreal emerge victorious at Barcelona to qualify for Europa Conference League

Visitors are once again jamming the narrow streets of Barcelona's Gothic quarter as global travel bounces back from the pandemic, reviving tensions over mass tourism in the Spanish port city. 
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Hotel occupancy in the city rose in April, which included the Easter long weekend, to nearly 85 percent, close to its pre-pandemic levels, according to the Barcelona Hotel Guild. 
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"There are more and more cruise ships, more and more tourism, more and more massification," said Marti Cuso, a high school biology teacher who has long campaigned against mass tourism invading the city centre.&nbsp; 
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"This has been a shock after two years of pandemic," said Cuso, 32, who had hoped the city would use the pandemic pause to change its tourism model. &nbsp; 
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Cuso, who grew up in the Gothic quarter, said he enjoyed the calm that descended on the neighbourhood, which is normally flooded with tour groups visiting its mediaeval buildings. 
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After receiving a record of nearly 12 million visitors at its hotels and tourist apartments in 2019, arrivals plunged by 76.8 per cent in 2020, mirroring declines across Europe. 
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"People reclaimed the squares, children played in the streets again," said Cuso. The pandemic also showed the dangers of having an "economic monoculture based on tourism," he said. 
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"The majority of residents who worked in tourism found themselves out of work overnight," said Cuso. Tourist arrivals in Barcelona had risen steadily before the pandemic and the tourism sector accounted for around 15 percent of the economy of Spain's second-largest city before the health crisis. 
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'Control the damage' -

The boom in tourism sparked a backlash, with regular protests, including one in 2017 where vigilantes slashed the tyres of an open-top tourist bus and spray-painted its windshields. 
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Barcelona residents identified tourism as the city's main problem in a poll carried out that year by city hall. 
&nbsp; 
"We must change the model to reconcile the two worlds. We can't have the tourists' city on one side and the city of locals on the other," Francesc Munoz, who heads an Observatory studying Urbanisation at Barcelona's Autonomous University, told AFP. 
&nbsp; 
With terraces once again full of tourists drinking sangria, Barcelona's leftist city hall said recently it plans fresh measures to tame the sector. 
&nbsp; 
Access to the busiest squares could be restricted and the circulation of tourist buses more tightly regulated. 
&nbsp; 
Barcelona city hall has already cracked down on illegal listings on online rental firms like Airbnb and banned tour groups from entering the historic La Boqueria market during peak shopping times. 
&nbsp; 
"Tourism is an important economic, social and cultural asset for Barcelona," said Xavier Marce, the city councillor in charge of tourism. 
&nbsp; 
"We need to optimise the benefits and control the damage. This is the debate which all European cities are having," he added. 
&nbsp; 
'Find a balance' -

Marce rejected the argument that the city did not use the two-year slump in arrivals due to the pandemic to change the city's tourism model. 
&nbsp; 
"Two years have not been lost. It is very difficult to solve the problems of tourism when there is no tourism," he said. 
&nbsp; 
Tour guide Eva Marti, 51, said she understands the concerns of residents, but believes formulas must be found to maintain an activity which provides a living to many locals. 
&nbsp; 
"During this 13 years I have worked as a guide, it is harder and harder to show tourists around," she said in a reference to measures such as rules limiting the size of tour groups to 15 people in some areas. 
&nbsp; 
"We have to find a balance," she added at a sun-drenched esplanade in the Gothic quarter before taking a tour group back to their cruise ship in Barcelona's port. 
&nbsp; 
Cuso, the anti-mass tourism campaigner, agreed with her. "We are not asking for zero tourism. There will always be tourism, but we have to have a diversified city, where tourism coexists with other types of economic activity," he said. 
&nbsp;

Visitors are once again jamming the narrow streets of Barcelona's Gothic quarter as global travel bounces back from the pandemic, reviving tensions over mass tourism in the Spanish port city.

Visitors are once again jamming the narrow streets of Barcelona's Gothic quarter as global travel bounces back from the pandemic, reviving tensions over mass tourism in the Spanish port city. Hotel occupancy in the city rose in April, which included the Easter long weekend, to nearly 85 percent, close to its pre-pandemic levels, according to the Barcelona Hotel Guild. "There are more and more cruise ships, more and more tourism, more and more massification," said Marti Cuso, a high school biology teacher who has long campaigned against mass tourism invading the city centre. "This has been a shock after two years of pandemic," said Cuso, 32, who had hoped the city would use the pandemic pause to change its tourism model. Cuso, who grew up in the Gothic quarter, said he enjoyed the calm that descended on the neighbourhood, which is normally flooded with tour groups visiting its mediaeval buildings. After receiving a record of nearly 12 million visitors at its hotels and tourist apartments in 2019, arrivals plunged by 76.8 per cent in 2020, mirroring declines across Europe. "People reclaimed the squares, children played in the streets again," said Cuso. The pandemic also showed the dangers of having an "economic monoculture based on tourism," he said. "The majority of residents who worked in tourism found themselves out of work overnight," said Cuso. Tourist arrivals in Barcelona had risen steadily before the pandemic and the tourism sector accounted for around 15 percent of the economy of Spain's second-largest city before the health crisis. 'Control the damage' - The boom in tourism sparked a backlash, with regular protests, including one in 2017 where vigilantes slashed the tyres of an open-top tourist bus and spray-painted its windshields. Barcelona residents identified tourism as the city's main problem in a poll carried out that year by city hall. "We must change the model to reconcile the two worlds. We can't have the tourists' city on one side and the city of locals on the other," Francesc Munoz, who heads an Observatory studying Urbanisation at Barcelona's Autonomous University, told AFP. With terraces once again full of tourists drinking sangria, Barcelona's leftist city hall said recently it plans fresh measures to tame the sector. Access to the busiest squares could be restricted and the circulation of tourist buses more tightly regulated. Barcelona city hall has already cracked down on illegal listings on online rental firms like Airbnb and banned tour groups from entering the historic La Boqueria market during peak shopping times. "Tourism is an important economic, social and cultural asset for Barcelona," said Xavier Marce, the city councillor in charge of tourism. "We need to optimise the benefits and control the damage. This is the debate which all European cities are having," he added. 'Find a balance' - Marce rejected the argument that the city did not use the two-year slump in arrivals due to the pandemic to change the city's tourism model. "Two years have not been lost. It is very difficult to solve the problems of tourism when there is no tourism," he said. Tour guide Eva Marti, 51, said she understands the concerns of residents, but believes formulas must be found to maintain an activity which provides a living to many locals. "During this 13 years I have worked as a guide, it is harder and harder to show tourists around," she said in a reference to measures such as rules limiting the size of tour groups to 15 people in some areas. "We have to find a balance," she added at a sun-drenched esplanade in the Gothic quarter before taking a tour group back to their cruise ship in Barcelona's port. Cuso, the anti-mass tourism campaigner, agreed with her. "We are not asking for zero tourism. There will always be tourism, but we have to have a diversified city, where tourism coexists with other types of economic activity," he said.

Mass tourism returns to Barcelona - so does debate 

A stoppage-time goal from defender Jordi Alba earned Barcelona a 2-1 LaLiga win at Real Betis on Saturday, securing Xavi Hernandez`s side Champions League qualification and edging them closer to a spot at the lucrative Spanish Super Cup finals.

Alba received a precise pass from Dani Alves in the final seconds of the game and lashed the ball past goalkeeper Rui Silva with a superbly taken, first-time volley.

With the league title already sealed by Real Madrid, Barcelona are now second on 69 points in the standings, five points clear of Sevilla in third and eight ahead of Atletico Madrid in fourth, both with one game in hand.

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"We have taken a weight off our shoulders. It could have been a more complicated and difficult season," Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez told reporters.

"It is clear that we have to play better. We have to analyse it, but we have made a titanic effort from November until now.

"We will be in the Champions League, the competition we deserve. Now we want to be second (in the league)."

Betis forward Juanmi had the first sight of goal in an entertaining match, but his effort could only find the side-netting in the seventh minute.

Ten minutes later Manuel Pellegrini`s side lost goalkeeper Claudio Bravo to injury as he hurt himself stretching to reach for the ball and was replaced by Rui Silva.

The Portuguese substitute, however, produced an excellent display, starting with a superb save from Ronald Araujo`s bullet header minutes after entering the pitch.

Betis created more opportunities in a lively first half, but substitute Ansu Fati put the visitors ahead after the break with a low shot towards the left corner in the 76th minute.

Barca`s lead did not last long, as three minutes later former Barcelona defender Marc Bartra levelled for the Copa del Rey champions with a header.

But Alba sealed the game in the dying minutes.

"They were two great goals," Xavi added. "Ansu makes a difference...

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"The second goal was earned. It`s a great goal, the cross, the finish... we worked on it yesterday. We knew that they stop on the edge of the box. When what you worked on works, it`s the best feeling."

Barcelona, who have won 10 of their last 12 league matches, are close to wrapping up second place and snatching the 3.4 million euros that the club would make by going to the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.

Both Copa del Rey finalists -- winners Betis and runners-up Valencia -- will be joined in the 2023 Spanish Super Cup finals by the top two teams in the LaLiga standings.

Betis, meanwhile, missed an opportunity to move level on points with fourth-placed Atletico in their bid to secure a spot in Champions League next season, as they remain fifth with 58 points.

Before the match, Barcelona gave a guard of honour to the Betis players for their cup victory last month.

A stoppage-time goal from defender Jordi Alba earned Barcelona a 2-1 LaLiga win at Real Betis on Saturday, securing Xavi Hernandez`s side Champions League qualification and edging them closer to a spot at the lucrative Spanish Super Cup finals.

A stoppage-time goal from defender Jordi Alba earned Barcelona a 2-1 LaLiga win at Real Betis on Saturday, securing Xavi Hernandez`s side Champions League qualification and edging them closer to a spot at the lucrative Spanish Super Cup finals. Alba received a precise pass from Dani Alves in the final seconds of the game and lashed the ball past goalkeeper Rui Silva with a superbly taken, first-time volley. With the league title already sealed by Real Madrid, Barcelona are now second on 69 points in the standings, five points clear of Sevilla in third and eight ahead of Atletico Madrid in fourth, both with one game in hand. Also read | Carlos Alcaraz beats world no.1 Novak Djokovic to reach Madrid Open final "We have taken a weight off our shoulders. It could have been a more complicated and difficult season," Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez told reporters. "It is clear that we have to play better. We have to analyse it, but we have made a titanic effort from November until now. "We will be in the Champions League, the competition we deserve. Now we want to be second (in the league)." Betis forward Juanmi had the first sight of goal in an entertaining match, but his effort could only find the side-netting in the seventh minute. Ten minutes later Manuel Pellegrini`s side lost goalkeeper Claudio Bravo to injury as he hurt himself stretching to reach for the ball and was replaced by Rui Silva. The Portuguese substitute, however, produced an excellent display, starting with a superb save from Ronald Araujo`s bullet header minutes after entering the pitch. Betis created more opportunities in a lively first half, but substitute Ansu Fati put the visitors ahead after the break with a low shot towards the left corner in the 76th minute. Barca`s lead did not last long, as three minutes later former Barcelona defender Marc Bartra levelled for the Copa del Rey champions with a header. But Alba sealed the game in the dying minutes. "They were two great goals," Xavi added. "Ansu makes a difference... Also read | 5 EPL titles, 13 managers: A look at how Chelsea fared in the Abramovich era "The second goal was earned. It`s a great goal, the cross, the finish... we worked on it yesterday. We knew that they stop on the edge of the box. When what you worked on works, it`s the best feeling." Barcelona, who have won 10 of their last 12 league matches, are close to wrapping up second place and snatching the 3.4 million euros that the club would make by going to the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia. Both Copa del Rey finalists -- winners Betis and runners-up Valencia -- will be joined in the 2023 Spanish Super Cup finals by the top two teams in the LaLiga standings. Betis, meanwhile, missed an opportunity to move level on points with fourth-placed Atletico in their bid to secure a spot in Champions League next season, as they remain fifth with 58 points. Before the match, Barcelona gave a guard of honour to the Betis players for their cup victory last month.

Barcelona secure UEFA Champions League spot with 2-1 win over Real Betis

Barcelona defeated lowly Mallorca 2-1 on Sunday to snap a three-match losing run at Camp Nou in all competitions as they climbed to second in LaLiga behind champions Real Madrid. With Real already having secured a record-extending 35th LaLiga title on Saturday, Barcelona made sure the disappointment of being out of the running for the top prize did not distract them from the job at hand.

Memphis Depay`s first-half strike calmed nerves at Camp Nou, where almost half the seats remained empty as fans disappointed with their team`s showing this season opted to stay away. Captain Sergio Busquets extended their lead early in the second half from a rebound.

Mallorca defender Antonio Raillo took advantage of a lapse in Barca`s defense to fire home a consolation from close range in the 79th minute. Xavi Hernandez`s team leapfrogged Sevilla to second in the standings. They are two points ahead of Julen Lopetegui`s side with 66 points.

With four games left, champions Real hold an unassailable 15-point lead over Barca. Mallorca are 16th with 32 points, a point above the drop zone.

"It’s very frustrating seeing Real Madrid win the league so early and with such an advantage,” midfielder Frenkie de Jong told Movistar Plus.

"But we have to admit that we struggled this season, didn’t play to our standards and were not able to compete with them. I hope next season things change for the best."

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Barcelona are now in a close race with Sevilla and Atletico Madrid to secure second spot in LaLiga, with the three clubs separated by just five points. The club that finishes second will earn an extra 3.4 million euros ($3.58 million) as they will feature in the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.

Following a brilliant through pass by Jordi Alba, Depay fired Barcelona ahead in the 25th minute with a close-range finish. The Catalans extended their lead early in the second half when Busquets controlled a rebound in a crowded area and found the space to drill the ball into the back of the net.

Mallorca’s goal came from nowhere and the final score made the match look closer than it was. Teenager Ansu Fati was given a standing ovation when he made his first LaLiga appearance for Barca since November, coming on as a second-half substitute.

The 19-year-old has struggled to regain full fitness after suffering a number of injury setbacks over the past year.

Barcelona defeated lowly Mallorca 2-1 on Sunday to snap a three-match losing run at Camp Nou in all competitions as they climbed to second in LaLiga behind champions Real Madrid.

Barcelona defeated lowly Mallorca 2-1 on Sunday to snap a three-match losing run at Camp Nou in all competitions as they climbed to second in LaLiga behind champions Real Madrid. With Real already having secured a record-extending 35th LaLiga title on Saturday, Barcelona made sure the disappointment of being out of the running for the top prize did not distract them from the job at hand. Memphis Depay`s first-half strike calmed nerves at Camp Nou, where almost half the seats remained empty as fans disappointed with their team`s showing this season opted to stay away. Captain Sergio Busquets extended their lead early in the second half from a rebound. Mallorca defender Antonio Raillo took advantage of a lapse in Barca`s defense to fire home a consolation from close range in the 79th minute. Xavi Hernandez`s team leapfrogged Sevilla to second in the standings. They are two points ahead of Julen Lopetegui`s side with 66 points. With four games left, champions Real hold an unassailable 15-point lead over Barca. Mallorca are 16th with 32 points, a point above the drop zone. "It’s very frustrating seeing Real Madrid win the league so early and with such an advantage,” midfielder Frenkie de Jong told Movistar Plus. "But we have to admit that we struggled this season, didn’t play to our standards and were not able to compete with them. I hope next season things change for the best." Also Read: Premier League: Son Heung-min double against Leicester boosts Tottenham's top-four hopes Barcelona are now in a close race with Sevilla and Atletico Madrid to secure second spot in LaLiga, with the three clubs separated by just five points. The club that finishes second will earn an extra 3.4 million euros ($3.58 million) as they will feature in the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia. Following a brilliant through pass by Jordi Alba, Depay fired Barcelona ahead in the 25th minute with a close-range finish. The Catalans extended their lead early in the second half when Busquets controlled a rebound in a crowded area and found the space to drill the ball into the back of the net. Mallorca’s goal came from nowhere and the final score made the match look closer than it was. Teenager Ansu Fati was given a standing ovation when he made his first LaLiga appearance for Barca since November, coming on as a second-half substitute. The 19-year-old has struggled to regain full fitness after suffering a number of injury setbacks over the past year.

Barcelona reclaim second spot in La Liga, defeat Real Mallorca 2-1 at Camp Nou

Real Madrid won a record-extending 35th LaLiga title after two first-half goals from Rodrygo spurred them to a 4-0 home victory over mid-table Espanyol on Saturday.

The win also made their Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti the first manager to capture titles in each of Europe’s top five leagues — England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France.

Rodrygo`s double put Real 2-0 up at the break before Marco Asensio added a third after 55 minutes and LaLiga top scorer Karim Benzema sealed the points in the 81st.

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Captain Benzema lifted the trophy after coming off the bench late in the second half as Ancelotti rested several regular starters with Real hosting Manchester City in their Champions League semi-final second leg on Wednesday trailing 4-3.

Real have 81 points with four games to go. They are 17 points ahead of second-placed Sevilla and 18 clear of Barcelona, who have a game in hand, and needed a point against Espanyol to clinch the title with almost a month of the season remaining.

It was a record-breaking day for defender Marcelo, who won his 24th piece of silverware with Real to leapfrog Gento as the player with the most trophy wins in the club`s 120-year history.

Real Madrid won a record-extending 35th LaLiga title after two first-half goals from Rodrygo spurred them to a 4-0 home victory over mid-table Espanyol on Saturday.

Real Madrid won a record-extending 35th LaLiga title after two first-half goals from Rodrygo spurred them to a 4-0 home victory over mid-table Espanyol on Saturday. The win also made their Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti the first manager to capture titles in each of Europe’s top five leagues — England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France. Rodrygo`s double put Real 2-0 up at the break before Marco Asensio added a third after 55 minutes and LaLiga top scorer Karim Benzema sealed the points in the 81st. Also read | Premier League: Liverpool keep pressure on Man City with 1-0 win at Newcastle Captain Benzema lifted the trophy after coming off the bench late in the second half as Ancelotti rested several regular starters with Real hosting Manchester City in their Champions League semi-final second leg on Wednesday trailing 4-3. Real have 81 points with four games to go. They are 17 points ahead of second-placed Sevilla and 18 clear of Barcelona, who have a game in hand, and needed a point against Espanyol to clinch the title with almost a month of the season remaining. It was a record-breaking day for defender Marcelo, who won his 24th piece of silverware with Real to leapfrog Gento as the player with the most trophy wins in the club`s 120-year history.

Real Madrid win record-extending 35th LaLiga title with win over Espanyol

Rayo Vallecano forward Alvaro Garcia netted an early goal to give his side a surprise 1-0 win against Barcelona at the Camp Nou on Sunday, moving Real Madrid another step closer to sealing their 35th LaLiga title.

Garcia sealed the game for the visitors when he opened the scoring in the seventh minute, receiving the ball inside the box and rifling it past goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to a wave of whistles at the Camp Nou. 
Barcelona failed to convert a number of golden chances despite going agonisingly close to an equaliser with the referee playing 14 minutes of stoppage time at the end of the second half.

"These mistakes cannot be repeated and they have happened to us again. They are very good opportunities that we let pass us by," Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez told reporters. "I leave angry, disappointed, because today was ... a repeat of what happened against Eintracht (Frankfurt), as well as Cadiz. We lacked a lot of effectiveness."

Real Madrid now need only one point from their last five games to secure the title, while Barcelona are second on 63 points, 15 behind Real and level with Sevilla in third. Barcelona had a good chance to level in the 25th minute but a strike by defender Jordi Alba from the edge of the box was just off target, touching the outside of the right post.

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Gavi then lashed the ball against the crossbar in the 42nd, while Spain international Ferran Torres netted on the follow-up but his effort was disallowed for offside. Xavi introduced three forwards off the bench in the second half as Memphis Depay, Adama Traore and Luuk de Jong all came on before the 71st minute. 
Traore caused a scare in the Rayo defence in the 76th minute with a stunning cross into the penalty area, but it was cleared to safety by Rayo winger Isi.

Four minutes later Depay tried his luck from the edge of the box but his shot, straight down the middle of the goal, was saved by goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski. Barcelona continued to press in stoppage time and threatened a number of times, but Rayo clung on for the three points which steered them further away from the relegation zone.

"I think we generated many clear chances to at least equalise. If we equalised with enough time, I think we would have won it. We have complicated our own qualification for the Champions League," Xavi added. 
"If we want to hear the music of the Champions League next season, we have to match (the Champions League teams) in their enthusiasm."

Barca next host relegation-threatened Mallorca on Sunday. Rayo, who moved up to 11th from 14th in the standings following the game which was originally scheduled to be played in January, are home to Real Sociedad earlier that day.

Rayo Vallecano forward Alvaro Garcia netted an early goal to give his side a surprise 1-0 win against Barcelona at the Camp Nou on Sunday, moving Real Madrid another step closer to sealing their 35th LaLiga title.

Rayo Vallecano forward Alvaro Garcia netted an early goal to give his side a surprise 1-0 win against Barcelona at the Camp Nou on Sunday, moving Real Madrid another step closer to sealing their 35th LaLiga title. Garcia sealed the game for the visitors when he opened the scoring in the seventh minute, receiving the ball inside the box and rifling it past goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to a wave of whistles at the Camp Nou. Barcelona failed to convert a number of golden chances despite going agonisingly close to an equaliser with the referee playing 14 minutes of stoppage time at the end of the second half. "These mistakes cannot be repeated and they have happened to us again. They are very good opportunities that we let pass us by," Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez told reporters. "I leave angry, disappointed, because today was ... a repeat of what happened against Eintracht (Frankfurt), as well as Cadiz. We lacked a lot of effectiveness." Real Madrid now need only one point from their last five games to secure the title, while Barcelona are second on 63 points, 15 behind Real and level with Sevilla in third. Barcelona had a good chance to level in the 25th minute but a strike by defender Jordi Alba from the edge of the box was just off target, touching the outside of the right post. ALSO READ | Premier League: Liverpool's derby victory pushes Everton in drop zone Gavi then lashed the ball against the crossbar in the 42nd, while Spain international Ferran Torres netted on the follow-up but his effort was disallowed for offside. Xavi introduced three forwards off the bench in the second half as Memphis Depay, Adama Traore and Luuk de Jong all came on before the 71st minute. Traore caused a scare in the Rayo defence in the 76th minute with a stunning cross into the penalty area, but it was cleared to safety by Rayo winger Isi. Four minutes later Depay tried his luck from the edge of the box but his shot, straight down the middle of the goal, was saved by goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski. Barcelona continued to press in stoppage time and threatened a number of times, but Rayo clung on for the three points which steered them further away from the relegation zone. "I think we generated many clear chances to at least equalise. If we equalised with enough time, I think we would have won it. We have complicated our own qualification for the Champions League," Xavi added. "If we want to hear the music of the Champions League next season, we have to match (the Champions League teams) in their enthusiasm." Barca next host relegation-threatened Mallorca on Sunday. Rayo, who moved up to 11th from 14th in the standings following the game which was originally scheduled to be played in January, are home to Real Sociedad earlier that day.

Striker Alvaro Garcia's early goal takes Rayo Vallecano to surprising win over Barcelona

A Spanish judge has lifted measures that prevented UEFA and FIFA from taking action against clubs that wanted to create a European Super League.

In the ruling, published on Thursday, the commercial court in Madrid said it was lifting measures that had been adopted in April last year as even if clubs were punished by FIFA and UEFA it would not stop them going ahead with their Super League plans.

Of the 12 clubs that originally backed the breakaway Super League, only Spanish sides Real Madrid and Barcelona and Italian club Juventus remain.

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The three clubs did not respond when contacted by Reuters for comment. World soccer`s governing body FIFA also did not comment. Newspaper AS reported that the Super League would appeal the decision.

"UEFA has today received the order of the Madrid court, lifting the precautionary measures in their entirety," a UEFA spokesperson said.

"UEFA welcomes this decision and is considering its implications. UEFA will not be making any further comment for the time being."

The proposed league threatened to upend the long-established order of elite soccer in Europe by guaranteeing its founding clubs places, rather than making them qualify through their domestic competitions.

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Judge Sofia Gil Garcia wrote in her ruling that at the time of the project`s development, the Super League clubs were "perfectly aware of the possible consequences, which did not prevent the adoption of financing commitments, which cannot be assumed or presumed to be frustrated by possible sanctions."

Last April, a different judge said that FIFA and UEFA must not adopt "any measure that prohibits, restricts, limits or conditions in any way" the creation of the Super League.

That decision came after both UEFA and FIFA warned they would impose sanctions on clubs and players competing in the new league, which was being set up as a rival to UEFA`s established Champions League.

A Spanish judge has lifted measures that prevented UEFA and FIFA from taking action against clubs that wanted to create a European Super League. In the ruling, published on Thursday, the commercial court in Madrid said it was lifting measures that had been adopted in April last year as even if clubs were punished by FIFA and UEFA it would not stop them going ahead with their Super League plans.

A Spanish judge has lifted measures that prevented UEFA and FIFA from taking action against clubs that wanted to create a European Super League. In the ruling, published on Thursday, the commercial court in Madrid said it was lifting measures that had been adopted in April last year as even if clubs were punished by FIFA and UEFA it would not stop them going ahead with their Super League plans. Of the 12 clubs that originally backed the breakaway Super League, only Spanish sides Real Madrid and Barcelona and Italian club Juventus remain. Also read | 'We have two options': Axar reveals how Ricky Ponting inspired Covid-hit DC The three clubs did not respond when contacted by Reuters for comment. World soccer`s governing body FIFA also did not comment. Newspaper AS reported that the Super League would appeal the decision. "UEFA has today received the order of the Madrid court, lifting the precautionary measures in their entirety," a UEFA spokesperson said. "UEFA welcomes this decision and is considering its implications. UEFA will not be making any further comment for the time being." The proposed league threatened to upend the long-established order of elite soccer in Europe by guaranteeing its founding clubs places, rather than making them qualify through their domestic competitions. Also read | IPL 2022: Warner becomes 2nd player after Rohit to achieve elusive milestone Judge Sofia Gil Garcia wrote in her ruling that at the time of the project`s development, the Super League clubs were "perfectly aware of the possible consequences, which did not prevent the adoption of financing commitments, which cannot be assumed or presumed to be frustrated by possible sanctions." Last April, a different judge said that FIFA and UEFA must not adopt "any measure that prohibits, restricts, limits or conditions in any way" the creation of the Super League. That decision came after both UEFA and FIFA warned they would impose sanctions on clubs and players competing in the new league, which was being set up as a rival to UEFA`s established Champions League.

Spanish judge lifts protection for Super League clubs Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus

Barcelona striker Luuk de Jong scored a header in added time to give his side a 3-2 win at struggling Levante after a remarkable, end-to-end game in which his side gave away three penalties. Barca are the first team in LaLiga to win a match after conceding three penalties and De Jong`s last-gasp goal saw them record a seventh consecutive league win, lifting them into second in the standings on 60 points after 30 games.

But they are still a long way behind leaders Real Madrid, who have 72 points from 31 after beating Getafe 2-0 at home on Saturday. Levante are 19th on 22 points. Levante took a surprise but deserved lead against a lacklustre Barca in the 52nd minute when captain Jose Luis Morales scored from the spot after a foul by Dani Alves.

Moments later the hosts earned a second penalty, for a handball by Eric Garcia, who had prevented Levante from taking the lead in the first half when he scrambled a shot from Morales off the line. This time striker Roger Marti stepped up to take it and his effort was saved by Barca goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen. The visitors quickly made Levante pay, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang heading home a cross from Ousmane Dembele in the 59th minute.

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Teenage midfielder Pedri then gave Barca the lead in the 63rd, thumping a first-time shot into the bottom corner after being teed up by 17-year-old Gavi, who had also been hauled on from the bench in the second half. Levante then won a third penalty of the second half when Dani Gomez latched on to a through ball and was tripped by Barca defender Clement Lenglet. Gonzalo Melero assumed taking duties and made no mistake against Ter Stegen to level in the 83rd.

But there was time for one final twist in an enthralling encounter when substitute De Jong connected with a Jordi Alba cross and headed into the bottom corner in the second minute of added time. "The fact we won while conceding three penalties shows we are very competitive and have a winning mentality," said Barca coach Xavi.

"I was concerned about this game because Levante are a difficult side with great players and they have beaten sides like Villarreal and Atletico Madrid. We`ve earned three golden points that keep us in the fight." 
But when pressed on whether Barca had a chance of catching runaway leaders Real, the coach added: "It`s very difficult because Real Madrid seldom slip up. But if they drop a few points in the next two weeks we can start to believe a little more."

Barcelona striker Luuk de Jong scored a header in added time to give his side a 3-2 win at struggling Levante after a remarkable, end-to-end game in which his side gave away three penalties.

Barcelona striker Luuk de Jong scored a header in added time to give his side a 3-2 win at struggling Levante after a remarkable, end-to-end game in which his side gave away three penalties. Barca are the first team in LaLiga to win a match after conceding three penalties and De Jong`s last-gasp goal saw them record a seventh consecutive league win, lifting them into second in the standings on 60 points after 30 games. But they are still a long way behind leaders Real Madrid, who have 72 points from 31 after beating Getafe 2-0 at home on Saturday. Levante are 19th on 22 points. Levante took a surprise but deserved lead against a lacklustre Barca in the 52nd minute when captain Jose Luis Morales scored from the spot after a foul by Dani Alves. Moments later the hosts earned a second penalty, for a handball by Eric Garcia, who had prevented Levante from taking the lead in the first half when he scrambled a shot from Morales off the line. This time striker Roger Marti stepped up to take it and his effort was saved by Barca goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen. The visitors quickly made Levante pay, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang heading home a cross from Ousmane Dembele in the 59th minute. ALSO READ | Premier League: Liverpool and Manchester City play out 2-2 draw in crucial encounter Teenage midfielder Pedri then gave Barca the lead in the 63rd, thumping a first-time shot into the bottom corner after being teed up by 17-year-old Gavi, who had also been hauled on from the bench in the second half. Levante then won a third penalty of the second half when Dani Gomez latched on to a through ball and was tripped by Barca defender Clement Lenglet. Gonzalo Melero assumed taking duties and made no mistake against Ter Stegen to level in the 83rd. But there was time for one final twist in an enthralling encounter when substitute De Jong connected with a Jordi Alba cross and headed into the bottom corner in the second minute of added time. "The fact we won while conceding three penalties shows we are very competitive and have a winning mentality," said Barca coach Xavi. "I was concerned about this game because Levante are a difficult side with great players and they have beaten sides like Villarreal and Atletico Madrid. We`ve earned three golden points that keep us in the fight." But when pressed on whether Barca had a chance of catching runaway leaders Real, the coach added: "It`s very difficult because Real Madrid seldom slip up. But if they drop a few points in the next two weeks we can start to believe a little more."

La Liga: Barcelona register emphatic victory despite conceding three penalties versus Levante

Barcelona were shaken up by Eintracht Frankfurt but took a first step in their bid to reach the Europa League last four as a second-half goal by Ferran Torres salvaged a 1-1 comeback away draw in their quarter-final first leg on Thursday.

Torres cancelled out Ansgar Knauff's first-half opener in a lively clash at the Waldstadion, which the hosts finished with 10 men having put the competition favourites on the back foot.

In the other last eight ties, West Ham United battled to a 1-1 home draw versus Olympique Lyonnais despite having Aaron Creswell sent off on the stroke of halftime.

Jarrod Bowen opened the scoring in the 52nd minute after a Jerome Boateng blunder, only for Tanguy Ndombele to level for the visitors after 66 minutes, tapping in from close range after Tete's strike was parried into his path by Alphonse Areola.

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Rangers lost 1-0 at Braga, with the Portuguese side being rewarded for their domination five minutes before the break when Abel Ruiz found the net with a powerful shot.

In the early game, Atalanta and RB Leipzig drew 1-1 at the Red Bull Arena. 
Luis Muriel put the visitors ahead after 17 minutes with a fine curled shot, with both sides hitting the woodwork in the opening half.

Leipzig, who missed a penalty through Andre Silva just before the hour mark, levelled in the 59th when Davide Zappacosta deflected Angelino's cross into his own net.

EARLY PRESSURE

In Frankfurt, the hosts soaked up the pressure early on, hoping to hit Barca on the break, but were in danger after three minutes when Kevin Trapp tipped Torres's shot over the bar.

Trapp was at it again to deny Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang but the game was to swing the German side's way.

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Sergio Busquets appeared to bring down Rafael Santos Borre in the area before the break but referee Srdjan Jovanovic overturned his initial penalty call out after a VAR review.

Eintracht kept going, though, and were rewarded three minutes into the second half when Knauff found the back of the net with a floating shot from outside the box after a poor clearance by the Barca defence.

Oliver Glasner's team continued to play with a low block and were punished in the 66th minute as Torres beat Trapp with a low shot after a one-two with Frenkie De Jong, who had just come on.

Eintracht's hopes of a late winner were dashed in the 78th when Tuta got a second yellow card for a rough challenge on Pedri Gonzalez, leaving his team to finish the game a man short.

Barcelona were shaken up by Eintracht Frankfurt but took a first step in their bid to reach the Europa League last four as a second-half goal by Ferran Torres salvaged a 1-1 comeback away draw in their quarter-final first leg on Thursday.

Barcelona were shaken up by Eintracht Frankfurt but took a first step in their bid to reach the Europa League last four as a second-half goal by Ferran Torres salvaged a 1-1 comeback away draw in their quarter-final first leg on Thursday. Torres cancelled out Ansgar Knauff's first-half opener in a lively clash at the Waldstadion, which the hosts finished with 10 men having put the competition favourites on the back foot. In the other last eight ties, West Ham United battled to a 1-1 home draw versus Olympique Lyonnais despite having Aaron Creswell sent off on the stroke of halftime. Jarrod Bowen opened the scoring in the 52nd minute after a Jerome Boateng blunder, only for Tanguy Ndombele to level for the visitors after 66 minutes, tapping in from close range after Tete's strike was parried into his path by Alphonse Areola. ALSO READ: UEFA adopts new financial sustainability rules for clubs from June 2022 Rangers lost 1-0 at Braga, with the Portuguese side being rewarded for their domination five minutes before the break when Abel Ruiz found the net with a powerful shot. In the early game, Atalanta and RB Leipzig drew 1-1 at the Red Bull Arena. Luis Muriel put the visitors ahead after 17 minutes with a fine curled shot, with both sides hitting the woodwork in the opening half. Leipzig, who missed a penalty through Andre Silva just before the hour mark, levelled in the 59th when Davide Zappacosta deflected Angelino's cross into his own net. EARLY PRESSURE In Frankfurt, the hosts soaked up the pressure early on, hoping to hit Barca on the break, but were in danger after three minutes when Kevin Trapp tipped Torres's shot over the bar. Trapp was at it again to deny Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang but the game was to swing the German side's way. ALSO READ: FIFA quashes rumours of changing length of matches for World Cup Qatar 2022 Sergio Busquets appeared to bring down Rafael Santos Borre in the area before the break but referee Srdjan Jovanovic overturned his initial penalty call out after a VAR review. Eintracht kept going, though, and were rewarded three minutes into the second half when Knauff found the back of the net with a floating shot from outside the box after a poor clearance by the Barca defence. Oliver Glasner's team continued to play with a low block and were punished in the 66th minute as Torres beat Trapp with a low shot after a one-two with Frenkie De Jong, who had just come on. Eintracht's hopes of a late winner were dashed in the 78th when Tuta got a second yellow card for a rough challenge on Pedri Gonzalez, leaving his team to finish the game a man short.

Europa League: Frankfurt hold Barcelona 1-1, 10-man West Ham draws with Lyon

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored his first three goals for Barcelona in a 4-1 win at Valencia - the third a deflection attributed to him only after the match, lifting his side to fourth place in LaLiga on Sunday.

The former Arsenal striker, who last found the net in October in the Gunners'&nbsp;3-1 win over Aston Villa, now has 10 goals overall this season.

Frenkie de Jong scored the second goal for Barcelona, who looked much improved after struggling at the start of the campaign in the wake of the departure of talisman Lionel Messi.

Initially the fourth goal was attributed to Pedri, but when the referee issued his match report after the game, he switched it to Aubameyang as Pedri's strike was deflected off the striker's back on its way in.

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Carlos Soler scored a consolation goal for the locals.

The win lifted Barcelona into fourth place on 42 points from 24 games, tied with Atletico who are fifth on goal difference. Real Madrid top the table with 57 points.

Barca were once again clinical upfront, scoring four goals from only six shots on target. They have now netted 10 goals in their last three league games.

"We are beginning to find that efficiency that we were lacking earlier in the season," captain Sergio Busquets told reporters.

"I hope Aubameyang is that one piece that we were missing upfront. He is a great player that arrived hungry because he was not getting many opportunities at his last club. It is a luxury having him in our team."

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It was also a busy afternoon for the video assistant referee, who had to intervene at two key points, disallowing a first-half goal for Valencia after spotting that the ball was inches out of play at the start of the move, and later overturning a penalty for Barca due to Aubameyang being very narrowly offside.

Barca appear to be refinding their confidence in the last few weeks under manager Xavi Hernandez. They were in charge of possession from the beginning, and Marc-Andre ter Stegen was solid at the back, frustrating almost all Valencia's efforts to fight back.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored his first three goals for Barcelona in a 4-1 win at Valencia - the third a deflection attributed to him only after the match, lifting his side to fourth place in LaLiga on Sunday.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored his first three goals for Barcelona in a 4-1 win at Valencia - the third a deflection attributed to him only after the match, lifting his side to fourth place in LaLiga on Sunday. The former Arsenal striker, who last found the net in October in the Gunners' 3-1 win over Aston Villa, now has 10 goals overall this season. Frenkie de Jong scored the second goal for Barcelona, who looked much improved after struggling at the start of the campaign in the wake of the departure of talisman Lionel Messi. Initially the fourth goal was attributed to Pedri, but when the referee issued his match report after the game, he switched it to Aubameyang as Pedri's strike was deflected off the striker's back on its way in. ALSO READ: Substitutes Fred, Anthony Elanga star as Manchester United beat Leeds United 4-2 in a thriller Carlos Soler scored a consolation goal for the locals. The win lifted Barcelona into fourth place on 42 points from 24 games, tied with Atletico who are fifth on goal difference. Real Madrid top the table with 57 points. Barca were once again clinical upfront, scoring four goals from only six shots on target. They have now netted 10 goals in their last three league games. "We are beginning to find that efficiency that we were lacking earlier in the season," captain Sergio Busquets told reporters. "I hope Aubameyang is that one piece that we were missing upfront. He is a great player that arrived hungry because he was not getting many opportunities at his last club. It is a luxury having him in our team." ALSO READ: Turn defence into attack: Antonio Conte masterminds brilliant win against Manchester City It was also a busy afternoon for the video assistant referee, who had to intervene at two key points, disallowing a first-half goal for Valencia after spotting that the ball was inches out of play at the start of the move, and later overturning a penalty for Barca due to Aubameyang being very narrowly offside. Barca appear to be refinding their confidence in the last few weeks under manager Xavi Hernandez. They were in charge of possession from the beginning, and Marc-Andre ter Stegen was solid at the back, frustrating almost all Valencia's efforts to fight back.

La Liga: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang bags hat-trick as Barcelona thrash Valencia 4-1

Xavi Hernandez was left to rue his Barcelona side's failure to convert chances as the Spanish giants were held to a 1-1 draw by Napoli in the first leg of their Europa League knockout stage playoff tie on Thursday.

Piotr Zielinski gave Napoli the lead in the 29th minute before Barcelona forward Ferran Torres equalised in the 59th minute from the penalty spot.

Barcelona were on the front foot throughout with their new attacking trio formed by fresh signings Torres, Adama Traore and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but the Catalan side missed several chances to turn the match around.

"I'm sad because it makes me angry that (Barcelona) missed so many (chances) because it`s a game to, at least win," Xavi said.

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"I think that the only thing that we lacked was to convert the chances. We were good in the high press. After going behind, we generated 20 chances and six or seven were very clear.

"(It was) a complete game. The result should be a victory and, being fair, by at least a couple of goals. We played well, but we're competing in the Europa League. This isn`t about feelings, it`s about results, and the game was excellent."

Barcelona travel to Italy for the second leg on Feb. 24.

Xavi Hernandez was left to rue his Barcelona side's failure to convert chances as the Spanish giants were held to a 1-1 draw by Napoli in the first leg of their Europa League knockout stage playoff tie on Thursday.

Xavi Hernandez was left to rue his Barcelona side's failure to convert chances as the Spanish giants were held to a 1-1 draw by Napoli in the first leg of their Europa League knockout stage playoff tie on Thursday. Piotr Zielinski gave Napoli the lead in the 29th minute before Barcelona forward Ferran Torres equalised in the 59th minute from the penalty spot. Barcelona were on the front foot throughout with their new attacking trio formed by fresh signings Torres, Adama Traore and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but the Catalan side missed several chances to turn the match around. "I'm sad because it makes me angry that (Barcelona) missed so many (chances) because it`s a game to, at least win," Xavi said. ALSO READ: Fans raise WHOPPING sum for young kid who sent heartwarming note to favourite player Harry McKirdy "I think that the only thing that we lacked was to convert the chances. We were good in the high press. After going behind, we generated 20 chances and six or seven were very clear. "(It was) a complete game. The result should be a victory and, being fair, by at least a couple of goals. We played well, but we're competing in the Europa League. This isn`t about feelings, it`s about results, and the game was excellent." Barcelona travel to Italy for the second leg on Feb. 24.

Europa League: Barcelona held to a draw by Napoli after Ferran Torres' equalizer

Barcelona have signed speedy winger Adama Traore on loan from Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers until the end of the season, the LaLiga club announced on Saturday, returning the Spain international to the club where he started his career.

The agreement includes an option to make the transfer permanent in the summer, Barcelona said in a statement, adding that Traore would be presented as their new player in a ceremony behind closed doors on Wednesday.

The Catalan club won the race to land Traore, with English club Tottenham Hotspur also reported to be keen on the winger who chose to return to the city of his birth.

Traore is a product of Barca`s La Masia youth academy, where Lionel Messi and manager Xavi Hernandez developed, but played only four times for Barcelona before moving to Aston Villa in August 2015 for 10 million euros ($11.14 million).

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A year later he joined Middlesbrough where he spent two seasons before signing for Wolves in 2018. His electric pace saw him finally reach his potential and led to a call-up from his country whom he has since represented eight times.

The 26-year-old, who spent much of the first half of this season on the substitutes` bench, scored only once in 23 matches in all competitions for Wolves.

Barcelona are in search of a buyer for Ousmane Dembele after talks on renewing the French winger`s contract fell through. 
They need to offload Dembele by Monday, when the transfer window closes, to ensure they get a fee as the 24-year-old`s contract ends in June.

Barcelona are fifth in LaLiga on 35 points after 21 matches, 15 points behind leaders Real Madrid who have played a game more. 
Xavi`s team host Atletico Madrid in the league on Feb. 6.

Barcelona have signed speedy winger Adama Traore on loan from Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers until the end of the season, the LaLiga club announced on Saturday, returning the Spain international to the club where he started his career.

Barcelona have signed speedy winger Adama Traore on loan from Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers until the end of the season, the LaLiga club announced on Saturday, returning the Spain international to the club where he started his career. The agreement includes an option to make the transfer permanent in the summer, Barcelona said in a statement, adding that Traore would be presented as their new player in a ceremony behind closed doors on Wednesday. The Catalan club won the race to land Traore, with English club Tottenham Hotspur also reported to be keen on the winger who chose to return to the city of his birth. Traore is a product of Barca`s La Masia youth academy, where Lionel Messi and manager Xavi Hernandez developed, but played only four times for Barcelona before moving to Aston Villa in August 2015 for 10 million euros ($11.14 million). Read Also | Juventus win race to sign Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic A year later he joined Middlesbrough where he spent two seasons before signing for Wolves in 2018. His electric pace saw him finally reach his potential and led to a call-up from his country whom he has since represented eight times. The 26-year-old, who spent much of the first half of this season on the substitutes` bench, scored only once in 23 matches in all competitions for Wolves. Barcelona are in search of a buyer for Ousmane Dembele after talks on renewing the French winger`s contract fell through. They need to offload Dembele by Monday, when the transfer window closes, to ensure they get a fee as the 24-year-old`s contract ends in June. Barcelona are fifth in LaLiga on 35 points after 21 matches, 15 points behind leaders Real Madrid who have played a game more. Xavi`s team host Atletico Madrid in the league on Feb. 6.

Winger Adama Traore returns to boyhood club FC Barcelona on loan from Wolves

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