Barcelona are still adjusting to life without Lionel Messi, so says Frenkie de Jong, who has no intention of leaving the Blaugrana any time soon.
De Jong joined Barca from Ajax in 2019, arriving with high expectations as the Catalan giants planned to push on following their LaLiga success under Ernesto Valverde.
Yet over the subsequent two-and-a-half years, the club have suffered a significant dip in fortunes, with a lone Copa del Rey title and Messi s exit among the highs and lows since.
De Jong has played under Valverde, Quique Setien and Ronald Koeman before working under current coach and Barca legend Xavi.
He has been linked with a move away from Barca over the last season, but he remains thrilled to be at the club he wanted to play for as a boy, e…
Neymar is welcome to reunite with Lionel Messi but first he must ask for forgiveness following his acrimonious Camp Nou exit three years ago, Barcelona presidential candidate Jordi Farre has insisted.
The Brazil international spent four trophy-laden seasons in Catalonia, forming a formidable partnership alongside Messi and Luiz Suarez, before joining Paris Saint-Germain for a record €222million in 2017 after his release clause was triggered.
Neymar has scored 50 times in 59 Ligue 1 outings since arriving at PSG and assisted a further 29 only team-mate Kylian Mbappe (99) has been directly involved in more goals in the competition in that time.
During his time with Barca, meanwhile, he was directly involved in 164 goals in 186 appearances, helping the club to eig…
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is enduring his first sticky spell as Manchester United manager, with Manchester City out to worsen the Red Devils poor form in this week s derby.
United host City – who will retain the Premier League title if they win their last four games – on Wednesday having lost six of their past eight matches in all competitions, with Solskjaer s side suffering five away defeats in a row.
The poor form predates the Norwegian s appointment on a permanent basis, which followed a Premier League loss at Arsenal and an FA Cup exit to Wolves, but United are drifting after exiting Europe at the hands of Barcelona, though Champions League qualification remains a realistic and necessary goal.
Solskjaer inspired an incredible turnaround in United s performa…
Manchester United endured one of their worst attacking displays in recent Premier League history against Liverpool on Tuesday.
The Red Devils failed to register a single shot in the opening 45 minutes at Anfield. It was the first time in the top flight they had reached half-time without having an attempt on goal since a meeting with Manchester City in April 2018.
United had just 24.5% of the possession during the first half and only managed two touches in the opposition box – 23 fewer than Liverpool, who led 2-0 at the interval thanks to goals from Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah.
Ralf Rangnick s side completed 92 passes – more than 300 fewer than Liverpool – and only seven of them came in Liverpool s final third.
United have now conceded more…
Southampton Football Club have confirmed that they ve completed the signing of Mohamed Elyounoussi from Swiss club Basel. The Norwegian has become the Saints second official signing of the transfer window, just a few days after Stuart Armstrong arrived at the club from Celtic. The 23-year-old Elyounoussi was born in Morocco but has been playing international football for Norway since 2011 at the under-17s stage.
He tends to play either as a forward or a winger and will provide Southampton with something different from an attacking perspective. He s been playing professionally ever since his time with Sarpsborg 08, which gained the attention of Molde. Elyounoussi went on to sign for Basel back in 2016, and since then, he s made quite the impression and has quickly established hi…
Luis Enrique is excited by the challenge of taking charge of Spain following a year out of the game after his Barcelona departure.
The 48-year-old left Camp Nou at the end of the 2016-17 season, having won three Copas del Rey, two LaLiga titles and the 2014-15 Champions League.
Luis Enrique takes the Spain job as the permanent successor to Julen Lopetegui, who was sacked on the eve of the World Cup after it was announced he was taking over at Real Madrid following the tournament.
Fernando Hierro took charge at Russia 2018 but could only lead Spain to a last-16 exit on penalties to the hosts, a second successive disappointing World Cup for the 2010 champions.
And after a year s sabbatical, Luis Enrique is ready to return to management with the national te…
Marcelo Bielsa insisted he remains the right man at Leeds United after watching his side slump to a 4-0 home defeat to Tottenham on Saturday.
Harry Kane inspired the visitors to a comfortable victory at Elland Road as Leeds suffered a fourth consecutive Premier League defeat for the first time since a run of six in 2003-04.
Their latest loss came after a 6-0 thrashing by Liverpool on Wednesday and a 4-2 home defeat to Manchester United last Sunday. Indeed, Leeds have conceded 20 league goals in February, which is the most by a top-flight team in a calendar month since Newcastle United conceded 21 times in April 1986.
Leeds are in real danger of being dragged into the relegation zone if results do not improve, and there are reports that the club are seriously cons…
Premier League new boys have completed the signing of form Manchester United youth player Ravel Morrison, according to Sky Sports.
The midfielder, who left Old Trafford in 2012 having made just three appearances in cup competitions has turned out for eight clubs since most recently Ostersund in the Swedish top flight.
Now, still on twenty-six Morrison has another chance to impress in his home country having failed to reach his potential in spells with West Ham United, Birmingham City and Queens Park Rangers, though he did score six goals in a loan spell with the latter in the 2013/14 campaign helping them to promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.
He has also played for Cardiff City, Lazio and Mexican club Altlas, while internationally he has repre…
What the papers say
Former Chelsea striker Timo Werner has emerged as a January target for Manchester United, according to the Metro. But the paper says the 27-year-old German international would prefer to fight for his place at RB Leipzig.
United are looking to add depth in four positions in the transfer window according to The Guardian. Defensive midfielder is one area targeted, while France defender Raphael Varane, 30, is among those who could be making way for any new arrivals.
Fulham are keen on Chelsea striker Armando Broja, 22, in January, reports The Standard. But the Blues want to keep the Albanian at Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal and Rangers are competing for the signature of England Under-17 forward Mason Cotcher, reports the Daily Telegraph. The 17-year-o…
Two goals from Luis Suarez and a scintillating Lionel Messi display helped Barcelona to a 4-1 Catalan derby win over Espanyol on Sunday.
Suarez scored in each half before Jordi Alba added a third, but it was some astonishing footwork from Messi that brought Camp Nou to its feet as the home fans celebrated a victory that takes them back into second place in LaLiga.
Barca had not been beaten by their city rivals since 2009 and they looked set to extend that run as soon as Suarez put them ahead following a spectacular long pass from Andres Iniesta.
Luis Enrique s side dominated proceedings while keeping an in-form Espanyol side firmly at arm s length, although there remained a certain amount of nervousness as they struggled to find a killer second goal.
But …