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Laporta slams rival for 'exploiting' Messi’s name in election debate

The race for the Barcelona presidency has reached a fever pitch following a volatile televised debate between incumbent Joan Laporta and challenger Victor Font. Tensions were ignited by bombshell claims from former manager Xavi Hernandez, who alleged that Laporta personally blocked a sensational return for Lionel Messi in 2023. With Sunday's election looming, the two candidates have clashed over whether the Argentine icon represents the club's glorious past or a missed opportunity for its future.

Burnley v Chelsea - Premier League

Barca plot swoop for Chelsea star using Mendes connection

Barcelona have identified Chelsea winger Pedro Neto as a primary target to bolster Hansi Flick’s attacking options ahead of the summer transfer window. The Portuguese international’s versatility and explosive pace have earned him high praise from the Catalan club’s scouting department. While no formal approach has been made, Barca hope their close relationship with super-agent Jorge Mendes could prove decisive in navigating a potential deal.

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Valverde & the 20 players in L'Equipe's exclusive 10/10 club

Within a Real Madrid squad that is packed full of Galacticos, Fede Valverde is rarely singled out for what he offers to Los Blancos despite his obvious importance to the team. On Wednesday, though, he was able to hog the limelight after his stunning first-half hat-trick saw off Manchester City in the Champions League. His performance also earned him the rarest of plaudits: A 10/10 rating from L'Equipe.

Lionel Messi Barcelona 2018

Rakitic insists Messi 'deserves' proper Barcelona tribute

Former Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has called for the club to finally honour Lionel Messi with a fitting tribute, while expressing his hope that the Argentine superstar continues his career at the highest level for "a few more years". Speaking on his 38th birthday, the Croatian reflected on the impact his former team-mate has had on the sport, noting that Messi's influence transcends club rivalries and borders.

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Howe praises 'outstanding' Newcastle after 'soft' last-gasp Barca penalty

Eddie Howe whisked away the frustration of a "soft" late equaliser to focus on what he described as an "outstanding" Newcastle United performance against Barcelona. St James' Park was rocking as the Magpies went toe-to-toe with the Catalan giants, only to be denied a first-leg advantage by a controversial late penalty that leaves the Champions League round of 16 tie on a knife-edge heading into the second leg at Camp Nou.

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Barcelona & Arsenal target Alvarez makes shock transfer admission

Julian Alvarez has sent shockwaves through the Metropolitano by admitting he is unsure if he will still be an Atletico Madrid player next season, amid links with Barcelona and Arsenal. Despite the club's efforts to dampen exit talk, the Argentina international declined to give a definitive answer regarding his future following a standout performance against Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League.

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Ex-Barca director backs Xavi in Messi return row

The controversy surrounding Lionel Messi's failed return to Barcelona in 2023 has not yet died down. Former sporting director Mateu Alemany has publicly supported Xavi Hernandez's explosive claims that the club had league approval to re-sign the Argentine star. This directly contradicts the official narrative from incumbent president Joan Laporta and La Liga chief Javier Tebas ahead of the elections.

Lamine Yamal Barcelona HIC

Last-gasp Yamal earns Barca a draw they barely deserved

Lamine Yamal kept his cool to convert a penalty with the last kick of the game to earn Barcelona an undeserved 1-1 draw with Newcastle in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at St. James' Park on Tuesday. The Blaugrana's teenage sensation had, just like the rest of his team-mates, performed poorly on Tyneside and could have had no complaints had another winger, Harvey Barnes, proven the match-winner.

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Lewandowski 'not even 50% sure' on next move as Barca exit nears

Robert Lewandowski has opened up on his future at Barcelona as his current contract at Camp Nou nears its expiry date, sparking intense speculation across the footballing world. The veteran striker, who arrived in 2022 and quickly became the focal point of the Blaugrana attack, finds himself at a crossroads. Despite his status as a club leader, a recent dip in form and the emergence of younger talents have left his role under Hansi Flick looking increasingly vulnerable.

LIonel Messi Barcelona

Font urges Messi to 'explain the truth' about failed Barca return

Barcelona presidential candidate Victor Font has challenged Lionel Messi to reveal the "truth" about his failed return to the club in 2023. With the election just days away, Font has claimed members are being misled by Joan Laporta’s "smokescreen" regarding the club’s greatest icon, on the back of explosive comments from former manager Xavi.

Harry Kane Bayern Munich 2025-26

Revealed: How Bayern Munich plan to end Kane transfer talk

Bayern Munich reportedly have a plan up their sleeve that will bring the transfer talk raging around Harry Kane to a close. They have seen the England captain pass 500 career goals this season, with 130 of those being recorded since moving to Germany in 2023. Exit clauses in his current deal are said to have expired, with an update being delivered on extension plans.

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La Liga to adopt fully automated offsides from next season - Tebas

La Liga president Javier Tebas has announced that the Spanish top flight intends to implement fully automated offside technology starting in the 2026-27 season. Moving beyond current semi-automated systems, the league aims to use FIFA-approved microchips embedded within match balls to provide instantaneous decisions. This significant change aims to eradicate human error and the contentious manual selection of video frames.

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Laporta hits back at Xavi and Messi claims

In a fiery presidential debate ahead of the March 15 elections, Joan Laporta has sensationally hit back at former manager Xavi. Addressing recent claims that he deliberately sabotaged Lionel Messi’s return to Camp Nou, painted a picture of a coach who was struggling under the weight of the job. Laporta didn't hold back when discussing the legendary midfielder's departure, suggesting a lack of professional focus was the primary issue.

GFX Hansi Flick Xavi

Flick responds to Xavi claims

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has carefully navigated the fallout from Xavi Hernandez's controversial remarks. Speaking ahead of this week's Champions League clash, the German coach refused to be drawn into a public dispute, opting instead to protect the privacy of their conversations while maintaining his team's focus amid the mounting political tension surrounding the club.

Frequently asked questions

Manchester United were founded in 1878, although under a different name at first - Newton Heath LYR. The name Manchester United was born in April 1902, beating alternative suggestions like Manchester Central and Manchester Celtic.

Manchester United are currently co-owned by the Glazer family, as well as INEOS founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe. In February, Ratcliffe bought an initial 25% stake in the club, ganing control over all the sporting operations.

Manchester United play their home games at the Old Trafford, which is also known as the 'Theatre Of Dreams' among fans and pundits.

Old Trafford has a capacity of 74,310, making it UK's second-biggest football stadium in terms of capacity (behind Wembley).

Manchester United have an impressive haul of 68 trophies in their prestigious history, which includes 20 league titles, three Champions Leagues, as well as 13 FA Cups.

Manchester United have won a record 20 English top flight titles. They have won 13 titles in the Premier League era, all of them coming under Sir Alex Ferguson. United, though, haven't lifted the Premier League trophy since the 2012-13 season.

With 963 appearances to his name, Ryan Giggs holds the record of making the most appearances for Manchester United. Giggs made his debut for the club in March 1991 and spent his entire professional career, spanning 23 years, at Old Trafford.

Wayne Rooney is Manchester United's all-time top goalscorer with 253 goals in 559 games for the club. He spent 13 years at the club, from 2004 to 2017.

Eric Cantona, Cristiano Ronaldo, George Best, Paul Scholes, Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Edwin van der Sar, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Angel Di Maria, and Denis Irwin are some of the most famous players to have donned the Manchester United colours.

Sir Matt Busby, Sir Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho, David Moyes, and Louis van Gaal are among the most famous to have been at the helm at Old Trafford.

Manchester United are famously known as The Red Devils among their fans and rivals alike. The term was introduced by the legendary Sir Matt Busby in the 1960s – after the tragic Munich air disaster – seeking inspiration from a local rugby club from Salford, who were referred to as "Les Diables Rouges" (The Red Devils) when they toured France in 1934.