At first, I wasn't used to the ball being so fast. I wondered if I would be able to play at that level. Now I watch videos from last year and this year, and I can see that I've been able to adapt. This season is the best of my career.
According to a recent report from A Bola, Jose Mourinho has personally stepped in after learning of FC Barcelona's interest in Nicolas Otamendi. The Portuguese coach has urged Benfica to move quickly and secure the Argentine defender's future with a contract renewal. The report suggests that Mourinho and Benfica president Rui Costa are fully aligned on the issue. Both believe that Otamendi remains far too important to lose, especially to a direct European rival like Barcelona.
Christmas has offered the Blaugrana stars a rare moment to slow down, reconnect with loved ones, and share glimpses of their private lives with fans through social media. After Christmas Eve celebrations, several players chose to post photos of dinners, decorated homes, and intimate gatherings. Some shared moments directly on their own accounts, while others appeared in posts uploaded by partners or family members.
Work at Spotify Camp Nou continues to move forward at pace, with Barcelona determined not to lose momentum even during the Christmas period. In fact, according to a report from SPORT, construction has not slowed down, which largely explains the club's urgency to increase stadium capacity as soon as possible and boost matchday revenue. Barcelona's objective to bring fans back in larger numbers at the earliest opportunity and the next major step could arrive very soon.
Andreas Christensen's injury has opened a regulatory window that allows Barcelona to temporarily use part of the defender's wages to register a replacement. However, turning that possibility into a completed signing will depend entirely on meeting a strict set of deadlines. As reported before, La Liga regulations allow clubs to use up to 80% of an injured player's salary to register a replacement, but this figure is adjusted depending on when the request is submitted during the season.
Barcelona are looking to improve the defensive unit, and they are keeping tabs on the Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie, as per Fichajes. The 23-year-old Ecuadorian is on loan at the Premier League club, but he has not been a regular starter for them. Arsenal have an option to sign him permanently for 45 million at the end of the season. It will be interesting to see if they take up the opportunity.
The serious knee injury sustained by Andreas Christensen has sparked concerns at FC Barcelona, compelling the club to consider entering the market for reinforcements in January. As already reported, the Catalans intend to formalise the long-term absence of Christensen before the end of 2026 with La Liga, opening the door for them to use 80% of his salary to sign and register a new player.
After a fierce and unforgettable match against Athletic Club, Maradona removed the jersey and handed it over as usual to the woman responsible for collecting, washing, and preparing the kits for the next game. However, the encounter had been so intense and physical that the shirt was badly torn, ripped open at the chest. Considering it unusable, she decided to discard it. Instead of throwing it away, she passed it on in its damaged state to a friend who owned a bar.
Barcelona held an interest in Eyong last summer as well, before he left Villarreal to join Levante, and continue to keep an eye on him. In fact, according to SPORT, the Blaugrana are closely following the 22-year-old centre-forward at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, where he is playing for Cameroon. The forward is one of the names Barça are considering for the upcoming summer transfer window.
One of the players that the Blaugrana are closely tracking at the tournament happens to be Levante striker Etta Eyong. The 22-year-old Cameroonian striker started the tournament with the only goal of the game in his team's win over Gabon. However, as it so happens, Eyong was not the only player who happened to catch the eyes of the Blaugrana scouts in the game.
Very important. I think that, within the club, in terms of professionalism, he's changed many things. He's instilled a certain German character. On the other hand, in day-to-day life, although these are details that aren't very visible from the outside, it's very family-oriented,
Barcelona were expected to have a quiet January transfer window but those plans may have changed after center-back Andreas Christensen was ruled out for several months with an ACL injury. "I'll talk to Deco," was the message from Hansi Flick about the situation, meaning the rumor mill has been quick to churn out a host of names who could work as potential short-term options for the Catalans in January.
After all, the German tactician masterminded four victories in four games, starting with Atletico Madrid and then beating Real Betis and Osasuna, before ending the year with the win over Villarreal. Flick minds himself up against Celta Vigo head coach Claudio Giraldez and RCD Espanyol manager Manolo Gonzalez for the prize. Meanwhile, Barcelona teenage superstar Lamine Yamal is in the running to win the La Liga Player of the Month for December.
We have five or six of the best goalkeepers in the world, but nobody talks about Robert Sánchez or Leo Román. And Joan Garcia, obviously. We have fantastic goalkeepers in Spain, fantasti,
