FC Barcelona

FC Barcelona

The role of a goalkeeper can sometimes be very up and down. But [Pope] has to see the longer-term vision: simply be at his very best; forget about team selection. The message to Pope was: find the sharpness that made you one of England's more reliable keepers, or you may not start.

I've improved a lot since Hansi arrived. I think he's helped me develop many aspects of my game. And I think I'm having a good season with him. He's a very demanding coach, but also very approachable. He's helped me with decision-making and also with scoring goals, always staying focused during the game, and also in defence. I think he's helped me in almost every aspect as a player.

The president began negotiating the contract with Leo's father, and we had the green light from La Liga, but it was the president who threw it all away. Laporta told me, word for word, that if Leo came back, he would wage war on him and that he couldn't allow that to happen.

Leo was signed. In January 2023, after winning the World Cup, we got in touch, and he told me he was excited about coming back, and I saw it. We talked until March, and I told him, 'Okay, when you give me the OK, I'll tell the president because I see it as a good move from a footballing perspective.'

Laporta told me, and I quote, that if Leo came back, he was going to wage war against him and that he couldn't allow it. And then suddenly Leo stopped answering my calls because he'd been told on the other end that it couldn't be done.

According to Xavi, the president told him directly that if Messi returned, the player would 'wage war against him' and that he could not allow such a situation. Messi's entourage stands by Xavi's version, with journalist Sique Rodriguez confirming that people close to the Argentine validated that Laporta halted the transfer when it was already agreed.

Frenkie de Jong will be out for approximately six weeks. Sometimes I think it might be good for someone to be out for six weeks so that they get less tired. Even so, we have to wait for him to regain his fitness once he returns.

The problem has never been economic. We could sign a player for 80 million and amortize him with a six-year contract. The problem was the salary space, once it is solved, Barça can sign anyone, but with consistency. We have to maintain the balance we have achieved, salary and sporting.

With so many options in midfield, Hansi Flick has an embarrassment of riches to choose from. Gavi will soon be back from injury to add to the roster, meaning that Marc Casado needed to be right on his game against Athletic to send a timely reminder of his quality. In the first half, particularly, which was a little industrial at times, Casado's tigerish challenges and willingness to fight for every ball were a worthwhile endeavour.

He doesn't have confidence, but we have to help him. It's important that he tries everything. Flick emphasized the need for collective support, recognizing that Torres requires encouragement from the coaching staff and teammates to overcome his current psychological hurdle and regain the form that made him a standout performer earlier in the season.