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Barcelona made official the signing of Spain captain Rodri on Tuesday, adding the World Cup's best player to a squad already filled with world champions. The midfielder who helped Spain secure its second World Cup title transferred from Manchester City to join international teammates such as Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Pau Cubarsi, Gavi and Pedri. The 30-year-old Rodri's contract will run to 2030, Barcelona said. The announcement was made after the midfielder underwent a medical and the clubs finalized transfer details. Barcelona agreed to a transfer worth 76.5 million euros ($88.5 million), according to a person with knowledge of the transaction confirmed to The Associated Press on Sunday. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the details of the deal have not been made public. Rodri, who had one year left on his City contract, said upon arriving in Barcelona on Monday that it was "a dream to play" for the Catalan club. "Very happy to arrive," he told reporters brief
Uruguay defender Ronald Araujo believes he has made an "ideal move" to Liverpool after his season-long loan from Barcelona was confirmed on Monday. The 27-year-old Araujo has taken a pay cut to facilitate the move. Liverpool has an option to buy him for a pre-agreed price - reportedly 47 million pounds ($63 million) - should the move prove successful. "It was the ideal move for me at this stage in my career. It was a move that was necessary for me to take," Araujo told the club website. "As soon as I heard that interest from Liverpool, everything went into action really, really quickly. I'm super happy to be here and excited to get started." Defense was an area which needed strengthening following the departure of Ibrahima Konate at the conclusion of his contract and the ongoing injury issues at right back. Liverpool believe Araujo's experience - he was named Barcelona captain in January - is important and, significantly, he is up to speed having been involved in the Catalans' ...
Lamine Yamal secured Barcelona's 4-1 win over Espanyol after setting up Ferran Torres for a double and the La Liga leaders took another step toward retaining the title. Yamal passed for Ferran to score in the 10th and 25th minutes before the teenage phenom ensured the victory in the 87th with Espanyol threatening to equalize. Marcus Rashford made it four for the hosts at Camp Nou in the 89th. Barcelona capitalized on Real Madrid's 1-1 draw at home to Girona on Friday to increase its lead to nine points with seven rounds remaining. Barcelona and Madrid will try to overcome losses in the Champions League quarterfinals in their next games after Barcelona lost to Atletico Madrid 2-0 and Madrid fell to Bayern Munich 2-1 this week. While Madrid will travel to Germany on a three-game winless streak, Barcelona's attack is clicking as it heads to Spain's capital needing a big win to advance to the European semifinals. Barcelona's fans chanted "Yes we can!" after the match with its team pla
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior praised Barcelona star Lamine Yamal for publicly condemning anti-Muslim chants in a recent match, saying players need to stick together in the fight against discrimination. Vinicius spoke Monday, less than a week after Yamal criticized the chants by Spanish fans in Spain's friendly against Egypt last Tuesday. Yamal, who is Muslim, said the chants were disrespectful and intolerable. Vinicius, a Brazil international, has been often subjected to racist taunts while playing in Europe and is vocal about the fight against racism. He said "it's always complicated" to talk about the subject but "these things happen a lot." "Hopefully we can continue with this fight," he said. "It's important that Lamine speaks about it. It could help others. We are famous, we have money, we can balance these things better, but the poor people and the Blacks who are everywhere, they surely struggle more than we do. So we have to stick together, those who have a stronger ..
Barcelona may be the last team Hansi Flick coaches. Flick said on Tuesday he doesn't plan on coaching anymore when his stint with Barcelona is over. He spoke ahead of the match against Newcastle in the Champions League round of 16 on Wednesday. The teams drew 1-1 in England last week. Newly re-elected club president Joan Laporta said he plans to extend the German coach's contract until 2028. Flick said it's not the time to talk about renewing a contract which ends in 2027, but hinted he was keen to end his career at Barcelona. "Everyone knows I'm happy here, but I also need to talk with my family," the 61-year-old Flick said. "There will be time for that. I love working here. I've got a fantastic family and great support in Barcelona. In football, I always aim for the highest level. I'm not thinking about leaving. Barca will be my last club." He did not elaborate on a possible plan in place for his retirement. Laporta was re-elected on Sunday for another five years after winning a
Joan Laporta was reelected as the president of FC Barcelona for another five years after winning a leadership vote among members of the Spanish soccer powerhouse. Shortly after midnight in Barcelona, the club announced Laporta had won. His only rival, Victor Font, had earlier conceded defeat and congratulated Laporta "for his unquestionable victory." With the counting now over, Barcelona said Laporta received 68% of the votes. The club said that more than 48,000 of Barca's 114,000 club members cast ballots at Camp Nou Stadium or at four other voting stations across Catalonia in northeastern Spain and in Andorra. "Thanks to this marvelous club, where its fans still vote to decide who will be their president and executive board," Laporta said in his victory speech inside an auditorium at Camp Nou, flanked by members of his incoming board. Laporta successfully presided over Barca from 2003-10 during the glory years of coach Pep Guardiola and a young Lionel Messi. He was voted back
Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal scored the first hat trick of his career in a 4-1 win over Villarreal that moved his team four points clear atop La Liga. At 18 years, 230 days, Yamal is the youngest player to score his first hat trick in La Liga, according to Opta. His haul included a brilliant solo effort for his second goal, which saw him beat a player as he cut in from the right wing and curl a shot high into the far corner. "He's exceptional and he's here to make people happy," Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said on Saturday. "We need his goals to give him confidence. He's very young and he still has to improve, but everyone knows the quality he has. "Opponents put two or three players on him and that makes it difficult. Today I'm very happy for him. When he enjoys his football, it's perfect for him and for us." Substitute Robert Lewandowski added Barcelona's fourth in stoppage time at Camp Nou. Second-placed Real Madrid hosts Getafe on Monday with a chance to trim Barcelona's
Lamine Yamal missed a penalty as Barcelona lost at Girona 2-1 on Monday and passed up a chance to overtake Real Madrid at the top of La Liga. The defeat was the second in less than a week for Barca and left it second in the table, two points behind Madrid. A win would have taken it above its archrival but, instead, a crisis brewed for coach Hansi Flick, whose side lost to Atletico Madrid 4-0 in the Copa del Rey last week. The second loss came even though Barcelona took the lead early in the second half. Yamal hit the post with his spot kick on the stroke of halftime but 14 minutes into the second period Pau Cubarsi met Jules Kounde's cross from the right and placed his header perfectly into the top corner. The goal was Barcelona's 100th in all competitions this season and made it the second club in Europe's big five domestic leagues to hit the century after Bayern Munich. However, Girona roared back into the game just three minutes later. Barcelona's Joan Garcia was already the