Barcelona are lining up a backup plan for their home fixture against Paris Saint-Germain in case Camp Nou is not ready on time to host their first Champions League home game. The Blaugrana have suffered several delays in their efforts to return to the renovated stadium, and are currently targeting the clash against Real Sociedad on September 28, just days before the French giants come to town.
The latest court hearing related to the ongoing Negreira case took place on Thursday, with former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu denying that the club made payments to the former refereeing vice-president in order to influence match officials. On the other hand, Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira's son Javier testified against his father and revealed some shocking details.
Luis Diaz admitted to having talks with Barcelona over a possible move from Liverpool in the summer transfer window before the 28-year-old winger joined Bayern Munich. The Colombian had been on Barca's list of targets as they pursued a new attacker but ultimately lost out as he pushed for Liverpool to accept the German club's bid instead.
Barcelona will kick off their Champions League campaign against Newcastle at St James’ Park on Thursday with injuries clouding preparations. Lamine Yamal is ruled out, but coach Hansi Flick is placing his faith in Marcus Rashford to step up. With Frenkie de Jong and Gavi’s fitness also under scrutiny, the Blaugrana enter the competition looking to improve on last season’s heartbreak.
Hansi Flick admits he is aware of the physical size and strength of Newcastle United ahead of Barcelona’s Champions League opener at St James’ Park on Thursday night. The German coach praised Eddie Howe’s work in transforming the Magpies into a dynamic and physical side, while stressing the need for his own players to adapt quickly in what he expects will be one of the toughest atmospheres in Europe.
Marcus Rashford has wasted no time settling into life at Barcelona, with the Manchester United loanee choosing a rap anthem for his traditional initiation song in front of new team-mates. The forward, who became the first Englishman to represent Barca since Gary Lineker, took centre stage by performing Dave and Central Cee’s hit ‘Sprinter’ upon arrival in Catalonia.
Barcelona's first stop on the long road to European glory takes them to Newcastle, where they will come up against a formidable opponent and equally formidable atmosphere at St James' Park without the talismanic Lamine Yamal. The injured 18-year-old has been ruled out, having found himself at the centre of a feud between club and country, but loanee Marcus Rashford will be determined to make an impact in his absence.
Newcastle legend Alan Shearer has delivered a fiery warning to Barcelona ahead of their Champions League opener, insisting the Spanish heavyweights won’t find life easy at St James’ Park. The Magpies icon, speaking ahead of Thursday night’s clash, believes his old club are more than capable of denting Barca’s campaign and snatching vital points on home soil.
Former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has been directly linked to the Barcagate scandal after police uncovered WhatsApp messages showing he monitored a paid social media campaign designed to attack rivals and even Pep Guardiola. Investigators allege Bartomeu concealed contracts, manipulated polls, and used fake accounts to boost his image before the 2021 elections.
Samuel Umtiti has officially retired at just 31, bringing an end to a career that promised so much but was derailed by chronic knee injuries. The 2018 World Cup winner enjoyed highs with Lyon, Barcelona and France, but is now ready to take on a new challenge. Umtiti revealed his "ultimate goal" is to move into coaching, saying he has already started preparing for life on the touchline.
Lamine Yamal will not be available for the Champions League opener against Newcastle on Thursday, much to the dismay of head coach Hansi Flick. A war of words broke out between the German and the Spanish FA after he criticised the Spanish national team for not looking after Yamal. However, on the bright side, Frenkie de Jong has been named in the matchday squad.
Former Barcelona player Bernd Schuster has warned Marc-Andre ter Stegen to find a new club if he wants to keep his Germany spot for the 2026 World Cup. Schuster believes the goalkeeper has 'no chance' of reviving his career at Camp Nou given the club’s history of moving on from players who fall out of favour.
Barcelona have been dealt a brutal blow with teenage sensation Lamine Yamal set to miss at least three matches through injury, sparking a war of words between manager Hansi Flick and the Spanish FA. The 18-year-old winger, already one of Europe’s most dazzling prospects, is sidelined by a stubborn groin problem that has been aggravated during international duty.
A Lionel Messi rookie card from his time at Barcelona has sold for a history-making €1.5 million. The previous record was held by Brazilian icon Pele but the Inter Miami star's one has smashed past that €1.33m mark to become the outright No.1 in the rankings.
Barcelona’s wait to return to Camp Nou drags on, as it was confirmed their upcoming La Liga clash against Getafe will be played at the 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff Stadium. While the club hope to secure the necessary license in time, focus is already shifting to the Champions League deadline, with UEFA demanding assurances before the crunch clash against Paris Saint-Germain on October 1.
La Liga president Javier Tebas has denied Real Madrid's claims that the league authorities targeted the club by sending a doping team to Los Blancos’ training ground on Monday. In the process, Tebas has taken a dig at Xabi Alonso’s side, that they blame La Liga for everything after the club registered an official complaint to FIFA.
Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Luis Campos has poured cold water on suggestions that Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal should win the Ballon d’Or, insisting the award has “no discussion” and must go to Ousmane Dembele. Yamal enjoyed an extraordinary season with Barcelona, but Campos highlighted Dembele’s treble-winning heroics with PSG as decisive.
Barcelona defender Andreas Christensen has made it clear he wants to extend his stay at Camp Nou beyond the current season. Despite his contract expiring next summer, the Dane rejected lucrative offers from the Premier League, Bundesliga, Saudi Arabia and even La Liga rivals in order to stay in Spain. With Inigo Martinez gone and Hansi Flick reshaping the defence, Christensen sees an open path to reclaim a starting role.
Lamine Yamal was given an injection by the doctors and physiotherapists of the Spanish national team ahead of their World Cup qualifying clash against Turkey as he was experiencing acute lower back pain. The 18-year-old had sustained a minor injury in the sacroiliac region before joining up with the national team but was trusted to play in the international games, sparking fury at Barcelona.
Erling Haaland has reportedly become an “obsession” for Joan Laporta, with Barcelona’s president confident that the Norwegian striker can be prised away from Manchester City. The Blaugrana will find themselves in the market for a new No.9 during the summer of 2026 as prolific Polish frontman Roberto Lewandowski is seeing his contract run down towards free agency.
'The Chaaaaampions'. That's right - the most famous anthem in world football is set to ring out around Europe yet again as the 2025-26 Champions League season gets under way this week. Thirty-six teams are vying it out to lift the European Cup in Budapest on May 30, but can any of them take Paris Saint-Germain's crown away from them?
Ed Sheeran is set to become the latest musical artist to feature on the front of Barcelona shirts when the Liga giants take in a Clasico clash with old adversaries Real Madrid. That rivalry is set to be rekindled on October 26, with Sheeran - who recently released his new album ‘Play’ - forming part of the long-term sponsorship agreement that Barca have in place with Spotify.
Samuel Umtiti has officially announced his retirement from football at just 31 years old, bringing an end to a career that saw him win the 2018 World Cup with France and multiple trophies at Barcelona. The defender, once regarded as one of the best centre-backs in Europe, has been forced to hang up his boots after years of knee problems limited his playing time.
Barcelona
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