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Rafinha-Barca

Barcelona treble winner announces retirement at age of 32

Barcelona treble winner Rafinha Alcantara has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 32. The former midfielder confirmed his decision through a video posted across his social media platforms, bringing clarity to a prolonged period of uncertainty since he last played competitive football.

Dani Alves Brazil 2022

Dani Alves set to buy & play for Portuguese club at age of 42

Former Barcelona defender Dani Alves is reportedly set to purchase a Portuguese club and register himself as a player at the age of 42. The former Brazil international saw a rape conviction overturned by a Spanish court in March 2025. He has been freed to rebuild his life away from football, but is considering a return to action in somewhat surprising surroundings.

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📽️ | Yamal wears Bayern star's shirt as he gives tour of his home

Lamine Yamal has offered fans an insight into his personal life after giving a tour of his huge mansion on YouTube. The Spain star has also revealed details about his fitness and football routines, interests away from the game and the unusual reason he believes he cannot maintain a relationship. The video has amassed nearly a million views within a few hours of being posted.

Euro W+Ls GFX

Weekend winners & losers: Rogers runs riot but Vini booed

It's that time of year where leagues around Europe begin to wind down for their winter breaks. Some countries allow their top-flight teams an extended period off around Christmas, while others will only be missing from the schedules for a week or so. All the while, the Premier League will continue throughout the festive period as the title race continues to hot up.

FC Barcelona Training Session And Press Conference - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1

Barcelona dealt injury blow as Christensen suffers ACL tear in training

Barcelona have been rocked by a significant injury setback after Andreas Christensen suffered a partial Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tear during training, dealing a blow to Hansi Flick’s defensive plans. The Danish defender’s recovery timeline remains uncertain, adding fresh concern to a season already disrupted by fitness issues for the experienced centre-back.

Hansi Flick

Flick opens up on future as Barca plan to offer new contract until 2028

Hansi Flick has spoken openly about his future at Barcelona amid reports that the club are considering offering him a new contract until 2028. The German coach made it clear that he is happy at Camp Nou, stressing the importance of the trust from president Joan Laporta and praising the working relationship he enjoys with sporting director Deco and the wider sporting structure.

Aston Villa v Burnley - Premier League

Villa eye Martinez replacement as Emery targets Barca keeper

Aston Villa are considering a move for Barcelona and Germany goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen as a potential replacement for Emiliano Martinez, whose future at the club remains uncertain. Martinez, a World Cup winner and key figure in Villa's recent success, has been linked with moves to various European clubs, creating a pressing need for a top-tier successor should he depart.

Hansi Flick

Flick speaks out after losing vital Barcelona star to injury

Unhappy Hansi Flick spoke out after losing key Barcelona star Pedri to injury ahead of their crucial La Liga clash with Villarreal on Sunday. The Spain international has had fitness issues since suffering a left hamstring injury in El Clasico against Real Madrid on October 26. He had earlier remained sidelined for five matches across all competitions last month and had missed the November international break.

FC Barcelona v Eintracht Frankfurt - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD6

'Decision is a joke' - Flick rages at 'unbelievable' Raphinha snub

A raging Hansi Flick labelled FIFA's The Best XI a "joke" after Raphinha was left out of the team. The Barcelona forward's exclusion cut particularly deep, given the scale of his output after helping Barcelona win three trophies last term. He had been shortlisted among the final 26-man list, yet failed to secure a place in the ultimate team at FIFA’s annual awards.

FC Barcelona v Atletico de Madrid - LaLiga EA Sports

'It's important he has a girlfriend' - Yamal handed bizarre advice

Lamine Yamal has been advised to get a girlfriend, as the Barcelona wonderkid is tipped to become the best in the world. The teenage winger had been linked with influencer Alex Padilla and, more prominently, Argentine pop star Nicki Nicole. What initially looked like a blooming love story, especially with the latter, has now fizzled out, with Yamal confirming that the pair are no longer together.

CD Guadalajara v FC Barcelona - Copa del Rey

Barcelona close in on Norwich wonderkid

Barcelona are reportedly on the verge of completing a move for 15-year-old Norwich City forward Ajay Tavares. The highly-rated attacker has been tracked by a host of leading European clubs ahead of the January window, but the Catalan giants are now expected to win the race for his signature.

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Yaya Toure reveals 'bitter rivalry' with brother Kolo

Manchester City legend Yaya Toure is adamant he was “better” than his brother Kolo after revealing the siblings had a “bitter rivalry” growing up. The former midfielder has opened up about what it was like to both compete and play alongside his brother, who represented Premier League trio Arsenal, City and Liverpool in a 14-year spell in English football.

William Saliba Harry Kane 2025-26

Arsenal warned they face bleak Kane scenario with Saliba

Arsenal have been warned that they face the threat of enduring a bleak Harry Kane-esque scenario if major silverware is not captured soon. The Gunners have remained in contention for top honours across recent seasons, only to be left empty-handed. Frank Leboeuf has told GOAL why that lack of tangible success could lead the likes of William Saliba to explore transfer opportunities elsewhere.

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'They vomit lies!' - Laporta's furious attack on Madrid

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has escalated tensions with Real Madrid after launching a furious public attack that accused their rivals of breaching ethical and moral standards. Speaking at a club event, Laporta claimed Barcelona are victims of smear campaigns, singling out Real Madrid’s media output and insisting Barca will not tolerate what he described as lies and institutional intimidation.

Murillo Nottingham Forest 2025-26

Future Real or Barca star? Forest have a 'crazy' £100m talent

Transfer fees have been creeping up for some time, with Neymar blowing the doors off that particular market when joining Paris Saint-Germain for €222m (£195m/$261m) in 2017. It appears to be only a matter of time before a defender moves for nine figures, with Marlon Harewood telling GOAL of why Nottingham Forest star Murillo could be the man to make history.

Scott McTominay Napoli 2025-26

'Excuse' - McTominay on players improving after Man Utd exit

Scott McTominay has delivered his verdict on why certain players have improved after leaving Manchester United, with the Scotland international saying there is no obvious "excuse" as to why that has happened. McTominay is, as a Serie A title winner with Napoli, one of several stars to have flourished since severing ties with Premier League heavyweights at Old Trafford.

Erling Haaland Manchester City 2025-26

Why 'old school' Haaland is being tipped to snub Real & Barca

Erling Haaland is being tipped to snub any future interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona as he is already at a club that will allow him to land major silverware and smash countless records on the goalscoring front. Ex-Premier League forward Marlon Harewood has told GOAL why the prolific Norwegian is likely to honour an extraordinary 10-year contract at the Etihad Stadium.

LIonel Messi Barcelona

'Hopefully we meet again' - Messi saga makes Laporta 'sad'

Barcelona president Joan Laporta admits the long-running Lionel Messi saga, which started in 2021 when the Argentine GOAT left for Paris Saint-Germain, has made him "sad". He does, however, hope that a crossing of paths will take place at some stage, saying: "Hopefully we meet again." A fitting tribute to Messi, be that an exhibition game or statue, is still being planned.

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'He made a mistake' - Yamal told why Spain was the wrong choice

Born in Spain to a Moroccan father and Equatoguinean mother, Lamine Yamal has taken world football by storm after rising quickly through Barcelona's famed La Masia youth academy. But while his decision to represent Spain on the international stage has already delivered a European crown for the youngster, one Morocco legend says he made the wrong decision.

Lionel Messi Lamine Yamal

Yamal and Messi to go head-to-head as Finalissima is confirmed

A generational showdown is officially on the calendar as Spain and Argentina prepare to contest the Finalissima in Qatar, setting up a first-ever senior meeting between Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi. With the European and South American champions colliding at Lusail Stadium, the one-off clash promises symbolism, history and World Cup-level intensity just months before the 2026 tournament.

Alexander Isak Barcelona

Barca transfer? Why Liverpool could look to sell £125m Isak

It has been suggested, by Dietmar Hamann, that Liverpool could look to sell £125 million ($167m) striker Alexander Isak to Barcelona in the summer of 2026. Anfield future questions are also being asked of £116m ($155m) playmaker Florian Wirtz, while talk of Jurgen Klopp returning to Merseyside in a managerial capacity has been addressed by a former Reds star.

Scotland v Denmark - FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier

Christensen's future still up in the air as Barca contract ticks down

Andreas Christensen faces a decisive period in his career as he enters the final six months of his Barcelona contract. With no renewal on the table and his future hanging in the balance, the Danish defender has attracted interest from the Premier League and the Saudi Pro League, leaving him with a stark choice: fight for his place in Catalonia or pursue a fresh challenge elsewhere.

Club Brugge KV v FC Barcelona - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4

Araujo tells Barcelona when he will return to training from spiritual trip

Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo has set a date for his return to training after completing a spiritual pilgrimage to Israel. The Uruguayan international, who was granted indefinite leave to cope with significant mental health struggles following a traumatic period on the pitch, has informed the club he intends to report back for duty on December 29 with an eye on the Catalan derby.

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.