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Julian Alvarez Atletico Madrid 2025-26

Simeone admits he's 'not in Alvarez's head' as Barca interest grows

Diego Simeone has admitted he cannot offer certainties regarding Julian Alvarez’s long-term future at Atletico Madrid as Barcelona links intensify. While the Argentine forward has struggled for goals recently, his manager believes he is finally rediscovering his clinical edge. Despite a staggering €200 million valuation placed on the World Cup winner, the lure of a move to the Catalan giants continues to dominate the headlines in Spain.

Vissel Kobe v FC Barcelona - Preseason Friendly

Gavi takes huge step towards Barca return

Barcelona midfielder Gavi has reached a significant milestone in his recovery by returning to group training for the first time in five months. The academy graduate was welcomed back with a traditional "tunnel of slaps" from his team-mates on Friday. His reintegration provides a massive psychological and tactical lift for Hansi Flick's side as they enter the business end of the season.

Yamal shouldering too much at Barca.jpg

Yamal is shouldering too much responsibility at Barcelona

Uncle Ben's eternally wise 'with great power comes great responsibility' warning to Peter Parker, aka Spiderman, is also applicable to Lamine Yamal, a real-life superhuman still at the beginning of his career. At the tender age of 18, the Barcelona wonderkid has already achieved more than most players dream of, and is held up as the beacon of excellence underpinning the Blaugrana's bid for another era of domestic and European success.

Julian Alvarez

Barca learn staggering Alvarez price

Barcelona’s search for Robert Lewandowski’s successor has hit a massive roadblock after Atletico Madrid slapped a record-breaking valuation on Julian Alvarez. The Argentine forward has become the primary target for the Catalan giants, but the financial demands from the capital could make this one of the most expensive deals in football history.

Botafogo v Vasco Da Gama - Brasileirao 2025

'Mentally exhausted' - Coutinho departs Vasco da Gama

Philippe Coutinho has departed boyhood club Vasco da Gama in Brazil, just six months after signing permanently after an initial loan spell. The 33-year-old former Liverpool and Barcelona star returned to his homeland after departing Aston Villa, but has decided to have his contract terminated at the club after he was reportedly booed by his own fans during a match against Volta Redonda last week.

FC Barcelona v Elche CF - LaLiga EA Sports

Man Utd probe move for Barca defender

Manchester United have identified Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde as the primary solution to their long-standing left-back issues. However, the Red Devils face a significant battle to land the Spanish international, with Serie A giants Inter also monitoring his situation ahead of a potential summer bidding war for a player who still holds a vital role in Hansi Flick's team.

Everton v Bournemouth - Premier League

Senesi's preferred move revealed as Bournemouth exit looms

The race for Bournemouth’s defensive lynchpin Marcos Senesi is reaching fever pitch as the Argentine international approaches the final months of his contract. While the Cherries have benefited from his rugged performances in the Premier League, the 28-year-old appears increasingly likely to seek a new challenge as a free agent this summer. With his contract set to expire, Senesi has become one of the most coveted cut-price options on the market, attracting interest from across Europe’s top five leagues.

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Juventus striker forcing Barca move as Lewandowski replacement

Dusan Vlahovic has reportedly instructed his representatives to prioritise a move to Barcelona as he nears the end of his contract with Juventus. The Serbian striker is eager to succeed Robert Lewandowski at Camp Nou, viewing the Blaugrana as his preferred destination despite interest from the Premier League and Serie A rivals AC Milan.

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Barca presidential candidate unveils Messi banner in new campaign ad

Presidential hopeful Marc Ciria has launched a bold bid for the Barcelona top job by unveiling a massive tribute to Lionel Messi in the heart of the city. The 'Moviment 42' leader aims to rectify the "historical injustice" of the Argentine's 2021 departure as his campaign to replace Joan Laporta as club chief centres on emotional reconciliation and a rigorous five-point economic plan to revitalise the Catalan giants.

Vincent Kompany Lionel Messi Cristiano Ronaldo

Kompany snubs Messi & Ronaldo when naming 'toughest opponent'

Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany has claimed his 'toughest opponent' during his playing days was not Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, despite recognising the iconic duo as the 'best players' he came up against. Kompany made 621 senior appearances as a player between 2003 and 2020, most notably captaining Manchester City and the Belgium national team.

Vasco Da Gama v Chapecoense - Brasileirao 2026

Coutinho asks for contract termination after being booed by fans

Philippe Coutinho has reportedly asked to terminate his contract with Brazilian side Vasco da Gama. The former Liverpool, Barcelona and Bayern Munich star returned to his hometown club in 2024 after spending time back in England with Aston Villa. However, he is said to have been targeted by Vasco's fans and is keen to explore potential playing opportunities elsewhere.

Rodri Real Madrid 2025

Madrid warned Rodri would prefer another club if he leaves City

Real Madrid have been warned to not expect Rodri to join them if he chooses to leave Manchester City due to his preference for another Spanish club. Rodri is on the road back to his best after missing almost all of last season due to tearing his ACL and having repeated injury setbacks this campaign, boosting City's bid to win the Premier League and go deep in the Champions League.

FC Barcelona v Elche CF - LaLiga EA Sports

'Frustrated' Man Utd officials regret Rashford agreement with Barca

Manchester United have become "frustrated" by the agreement they struck with Barcelona for the loan transfer of Marcus Rashford. The England international is spending the 2025-26 season with Hansi Flick's side, and the deal does include a purchase option set at £26 million (£30m). However, Rashford's good form with the Catalan giants has left Manchester United worrying that his valuation has risen significantly.

Marc Ciria Messi

Barca presidential candidate unfurls huge Messi banner in city centre

Barcelona presidential candidate Marc Ciria has unfurled a huge banner featuring club legend Lionel Messi in the city centre as he continues his campaign to replace Joan Laporta at the helm of the Catalan giants. Ciria has also added the slogan used by Laporta in a poster near the Santiago Bernabeu in his previous election campaign: "Looking forward to seeing you again."

Marcus-Rashford

Man Utd shut down Barca's plot to lower Rashford price

Manchester United have no intention of allowing Barcelona to re-negotiate their asking price to sign Marcus Rashford this summer. A £26 million ($35m) fee has reportedly been agreed between the two clubs for the Blaugrana to keep the England international on a permanent basis beyond the summer, although several reports have suggested that La Liga's champions are keen to lower that fee if possible.

Raphinha Barcelona 2025-26

Raphinha hints at refereeing conspiracy after Barca loss

The fallout from Barcelona's shock 2-1 defeat to Girona has taken a dramatic turn following a night of officiating chaos at the Estadi Montilivi. While Hansi Flick’s side surrendered a crucial lead and slipped behind Real Madrid in the Liga title race, the post-match narrative has been dominated by a controversial winning goal from Fran Beltran. The Blaugrana are now fuming over what they perceive as a systemic bias, leading to an explosive "against everyone" rallying cry from within the dressing room.

Harry Kane Tottenham

Tottenham brutally told why Kane will snub emotional return

Tottenham have been brutally informed that there is no chance of Harry Kane pulling on their famous lilywhite shirt again. The England captain severed career-long ties with Spurs in 2023 as the club’s all-time leading scorer and lifted his trophy curse in Germany with Bayern Munich. A return to the Premier League has been mooted, but Bobby Zamora has told GOAL why such a switch is unlikely to happen.

Referee problem GFX

Football needs to solve its refereeing problem - fast

One regular weekend of refereeing, that's all we ask for. Will never happen. At least not in the current climate - because if the fourth round of the FA Cup taught us anything, it's that the absence of VAR definitely doesn't mean an absence of controversy. The first half of the Aston Villa-Newcastle game alone made a compelling case for the continued use of technology for offside decisions and penalty claims.

Girona FC v Getafe CF - LaLiga EA Sports

'I stepped on him' - Echeverri admits Kounde foul as Girona beat Barca

Girona star Claudio Echeverri has confessed he may have fouled Jules Kounde in the buildup to Fran Beltran’s decisive goal during Monday's fiery Catalan derby. Barcelona were left fuming as the 86th-minute strike stood despite a VAR check, eventually falling to a 2-1 defeat at Montilivi. The result sees Hansi Flick's side slip two points behind Real Madrid in the title race, as Lamine Yamal's penalty miss proved costly on a night of intense controversy.

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Flick blasts Barca mistakes but refuses to blame referee for shock loss

Hansi Flick refused to blame a controversial refereeing decision for Barcelona's shock 2-1 defeat to Girona, instead lamenting his side's defensive errors. The Blaugrana took the lead through Pau Cubarsi but crumbled late on, with Fran Beltran netting a controversial winner after a potential foul on Jules Kounde. The result leaves Barca trailing Real Madrid in the title race, compounding a miserable week after their 4-0 Copa del Rey defeat against Atletico Madrid.

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'Nothing to celebrate' - Garcia rejects MOTM label & slams Barca defence

Barcelona’s title defence hit a massive stumbling block on Monday as Hansi Flick’s side suffered a damaging 2-1 defeat at Girona. Despite producing a string of world-class saves, goalkeeper Joan Garcia was furious at full-time, blasting his team's defensive frailties and the officials after a controversial late winner was allowed to stand. The result leaves the Blaugrana trailing arch-rivals Real Madrid in the race for the Liga crown.

Barcelona Girona

Yamal misses penalty as Girona stun Barca in title race shock

Girona sprung a huge shock in the race in La Liga as they beat Barcelona 2-1 at Montilivi on Monday. Lamine Yamal missed a penalty and Hansi Flick's side were left fuming by a controversial late goal, as the Catalan side dropped important points in the title race amidst a fierce battle with bitter rivals Real Madrid at the summit.

Frequently asked questions

Fifteen players from the Aston Villa Wesleyan Chapel cricket team formed the Aston Villa Football Club in the 1870s.

Aston Villa are owned by V Sports, a joint venture between billionaires Nassef Sawiris and Wesley Edens. Atairos, an investment company based in the UK, became a minority partner of V Sports in April 2024.

Aston Villa play all their home games at the Villa Park since 1897.

Villa Park has a capacity of over 42,000 and has hosted more FA Cup semi-final games than any other stadium in history.

Aston Villa have won 22 titles throughout their history, including seven English top-flight titles, one European Cup (now known as the Champions League), and seven FA Cups.

Aston Villa have won seven top-flight titles, but have failed to clinch a league trophy in the Premier League era. They last won the first division in the 1980-81 season.

Former Scottish left-back Charlie Aitken has made the most appearances for Aston Villa, featuring in 660 games for the club from 1961 to 1975.

One of the greatest players to ever play for Aston Villa, Billy Walker is the club's record goalscorer of all-time with 244 goals to his name.

Jack Grealish, Dwight Yorke, Emiliano Martinez, Gordon Cowans, and Gareth Barry are among the most respectable players in Aston Villa history, with the club also luring legends like Peter Schmeichel and Paul McGrath.

Steven Gerrard, Steve Bruce, Gerard Houllier and Unai Emery are among the big names to have led Aston Villa during its illustrious history.

Aston Villa are famously known as The Villans. The name 'Villa' is derived from the Villa Cross Wesleyan Church, whose former cricket club passed on the name to the club.