Barcelona are in contact with Lionel Messi and would love the Argentina star to make a dream return to Camp Nou, according to the club s vice president Rafael Yuste.
Messi is in the final few months of his two-year deal with Paris Saint-Germain, having joined the Ligue 1 giants when a financial crisis forced him to leave Barca in 2021.
The World Cup winner has scored 18 goals and added 17 assists this season, but with PSG falling short in the Champions League, doubts have arisen concerning his future in the French capital.
While David Beckham-owned Inter Miami are keen to take Messi to MLS, Barcelona have often been linked with a move for their all-time leading goalscorer, and Yuste refused to rule out a reunion on Friday.
Of course we are in contact wi…
Champions League – Ajax 2-1 Lyon, September 2002
Ibrahimovic was introduced to European football way back in 2002, but he was only in the team on the day due to an injury to Rafael van der Vaart and Mido s suspension, which was a consequence of throwing a pair of scissors at the Swede during a row. Ibrahimovic stepped up in their absence, however, scoring a brilliant opener from a tight angle after squeezing between a couple of defenders, before then getting the winner with a simple finish in the Champions League group-stage clash.
VIDEO | Top 10: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax)
Serie A – Brescia 0-3 Juventus, September 2004
Having developed into a real talent at Ajax, Juventus splashed a reported €16million on Ibrahimovic at…
Brighton moved top of the Premier League after holding 10-man Arsenal to a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium.
Kai Havertz s first-half strike was cancelled out by Joao Pedro, while the hosts played most of the second half with a player less following Declan Rice s red card for two bookable offences.
The Gunners broke the deadlock seven minutes before half-time when Bukayo Saka outmuscled Lewis Dunk before teeing up Havertz, who lifted the ball into the empty net over the outrushing Bart Verbruggen.
However, Mikel Arteta s side were reduced to 10 men within four minutes of the restart, with Rice shown a second yellow card after he was deemed to have prevented the taking of a Brighton free-kick.
The Seagulls were level just nine minutes later when David Raya…
What the papers say
Dominic Solanke has emerged as a potential solution to Tottenham’s hunt for a striker. The Sun reports Spurs are watching the Bournemouth forward, 26, ahead of a summer signing.
Tottenham are also being linked with Belgium midfielder Arther Vermeeren, 18. According to The Sun, Spurs are willing to pay Royal Antwerp £25million in January with an agreement to loan him back for the rest of the season.
Jesse Lingard’s search for a new club has reached Lille, according to the Daily Mirror. But the 31-year-old former Manchester United midfielder, a free agent, could be restricted by a limit on French clubs signing players from outside the EU.
Manchester United are being linked with a move for Dutch striker Joshua Zirkzee, reports the Metro via…
According to a recent report from Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have been in talks with Juventus over the possibility of them having first refusal of Philippe Coutinho. The belief is that the Brazilian could be allowed to leave for a fee of around €90 million during the summer transfer window with Bayern Munich not planning on taking up the option to sign him on a permanent basis.
While Bayern and Barcelona don’t appear to be all too eager to have him, there are still plenty of top clubs around European football who seem to be entertaining the idea of bringing him on.
Coutinho was a phenom during his days with Liverpool and if he’s able to recapture even a small percentage of that, he could serve as a useful tool for plenty of teams.
Whether or not anyo…
Points were dropped by several Premier League sides with top-six aspirations on a weekend when leaders Liverpool were rescued by Mohamed Salah s finishing as they extended their winning streak and their cushion at the top.
The Reds beat Watford 2-0 at Anfield to move 10 points clear of Leicester City, who were held to a 1-1 draw at home by struggling Norwich City.
There was also frustration for a top-four side at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea failed to score for the second time in three Premier League home games as they succumbed 1-0 to Bournemouth.
Manchester City suffered no such slip-up when they travelled to Arsenal on Sunday, as a 3-0 win for the third-placed defending champions moved them to 14 points behind Liverpool.
Tottenham nudged up to fi…
Bayern end their Trippier chase
With dealing with some public financial limitations at St. James’ Park this month, it is no secret that Eddie Howe’s side are forced to part with some of their first-team stars in a bid to balance the books.
However, although there might be continued speculation that Miguel Almiron could be set for a big-money move to Saudi Arabia before January’s transfer window slams shut, the former Bournemouth boss has made it clear that will not be allowed to leave the north east under any circumstances.
While German giants Bayern Munich might have been desperate to complete a January swoop for the England international, Thomas Tuchel’s men are unwilling to meet Newcastle’s reported price tag.
Although there might have been sugg…
More defeats than Moyes, worst league start in 30 years – how bad do the numbers look under Solskjae
Manchester United fans do not need telling that the team is in a rut. The thousands who left Old Trafford early during Wednesday s miserable 2-0 home defeat to Burnley made that abundantly clear.
The loss is United s second in a row in the Premier League – the first time that has happened since last April – and means they have won just twice in all competitions since the turn of the year.
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer conceded their performance was not up to scratch but, given their overall from since he took permanent charge, questions are being asked as to how much longer these defeats can be accepted as minor bumps on the road to a more promising future.
United have endured some difficult days since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, but how does the current ma…
Leeds United won an enthralling encounter over Blackburn Rovers to extend their Championship lead over Norwich City, who in turn produced late heroics to salvage a draw against Nottingham Forest.
The top two both struck twice in stoppage time, Leeds coming from behind to beat Blackburn 3-2 at Elland Road, while Norwich somehow recovered to draw 3-3 with Nottingham Forest, having been three goals down with 14 minutes left.
Jay Rodriguez scored twice as third-placed West Brom recorded a rather calmer 2-0 win over Wigan Athletic to close within three points of Norwich, while Sheffield United defeated promotion rivals Derby County 3-1 on a Boxing Day card where all 24 teams were in action.
Middlesbrough lost 1-0 at home to Sheffield Wednesday to lose ground in the pl…
Sir Jim Ratcliffe says Manchester United will make a fresh decision on the future of forward Mason Greenwood and will “justify it one way or the other”.
Greenwood, who is on loan at Spanish side Getafe, was suspended by United on January 30, 2022 over allegations relating to a young woman after images and videos were posted online.
The now 22-year-old faced charges including attempted rape and assault but the Crown Prosecution Service announced in February last year that the case had been discontinued.
Reports last year that United were planning to retain him following an internal investigation were met by public outcry and Ratcliffe acknowledges that a decision will have to be made when Greenwood returns about what happens next – but insists nothing has be…