#barcelona

#barcelona

Barcelona are currently being linked with several center-backs amid speculation they will try to strengthen their backline in the summer. Alessandro Bastoni, Nico Schlotterbeck and Pau Torres have all been mentioned as possible targets, while Mundo Deportivo now claim Manchester City's Josko Gvardiol is also an option.

One of those goals, however, stands above the rest. The moment came in October 2013 at Camp Nou. Barcelona were locked in a tense battle with Madrid when Sanchez spotted goalkeeper Diego Lopez slightly off his line. What followed was a perfectly weighted chip that floated into the net, sealing a vital Barça victory. The goal was not just decisive, but unforgettable for its quality and audacity.

At present, that search has been reduced to two elite profiles, namely, Josko Gvardiol and Alessandro Bastoni. Before arriving at this shortlist, Barcelona explored a much wider range of options. Several defenders were closely monitored, including Pau Torres, Ibrahima Konate, and Marc Guehi. Each of these names was assessed not only for quality, but also for market conditions and contractual situations.

For Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal, the Estadio de la Ceramica is one of those places where he has always been at his best. For Barcelona's number 10, it has become a familiar theatre, one where he has repeatedly turned promise into performance. This Sunday, Barcelona return to Villarreal, and memories from recent visits inevitably point in one direction. Yamal's first official appearance at La Ceramica came in August 2023, in a chaotic and unforgettable 4-3 win.

Barcelona's pursuit of teenage striker Hamza Abdelkarim has hit its first real obstacle, but the operation is far from collapsing. According to a report from SPORT, the Egyptian giants have turned down Barça's opening proposal for the youngster. Barcelona initially approached the deal with caution. The club tabled a straightforward loan offer that included a purchase option worth €4 million, with additional bonuses tied to appearances and goals.

Fernandez wants to remain at Barça and make a breakthrough in the first team. That is his biggest goal right now. This is despite the fact that Toni has not been a prominent figure in Barcelona's training camp, let alone the first team. At the age of just 17, it would perhaps be unfair to expect the young attacker to show up and start delivering for the first team.

CHELSEA (B+) They might have only finished 12th, but sealing a spot in the knockout-phase playoffs would have been beyond the Belgian minnows' wildest dreams in their first-ever UWCL tournament. A win over FC Twente and draws with PSG, Paris FC and Roma set them up for success. They even managed to keep Barcelona and Arsenal to only three goals.

"We want our legends to be able to come back to the club and not have to do it in the middle of the night and hidden. We will do everything possible to achieve it. [Messi] is an indispensable figure for this club. He must come back with a solid support system and a good structure in place. The Messi-Barca relationship has to be like the Michael Jordan-Nike one. It must go above and beyond, from the commercial and institutional areas of the club to the sponsors and development of players at La Masia."