Deco just can't seem to quit Julián Álvarez.
Barcelona's sporting director has made the pilgrimage to Madrid to meet with the player's agent. Afterall, without Álvarez making noise, there's little chance of a deal getting done.
On paper, Álvarez looks like a very good fit for Barcelona, and the system that Hansi Flick has built. He presses like a machine, is built for possession based football after years spent with Pep Guardiola, and is a lethal finisher who can put the ball in the net in a multitude of ways.
Álvarez signed for Atletico Madrid two summers ago, at the same time when Flick arrived in Barcelona. It's well known that the Barca boss has never been properly backed by those above him, but can you imagine if he had a center forward like Álvarez to work with from the beginning?
Alas, here we are two years later. Flick has already delivered two La Liga trophies with an aging Robert Lewandowski and an inconsistent Ferran Torres. One is now in Chicago, while the other could be off to Paris in no time.

#Barcelona #time #deco #juli

Three members of the first-team ranks at La Liga champions Barcelona could find themselves donning the colours of Ajax for the duration of the 2026/27 campaign.
This comes amid the understanding that the Dutch outfit have earmarked yet another Blaugrana star as a potential summer signing.
Barca and Ajax are of course fresh off doing business on the transfer front, in a deal which took Marc-André ter Stegen from the former to the latter on a year-long loan.
Reports then swiftly followed that the parties are also in advanced negotiations over the terms of an agreement for young defender Jofre Torrents.
And if the latest word stemming from Spain is anything to go by, then Ajax's shopping spree in Catalunya's capital may not be finished there, either…

#ajax #liga #Barca

La Liga giants Barcelona are closing on an imminent deal to bring João Cancelo back to the club. This comes as the Blaugrana inch ever closer to a definitive agreement with Saudi outfit Al-Hilal over the terms of a permanent transfer.
Defender Cancelo of course spent the 2nd half of this past season plying his trade in the colours of Barcelona, as part of a short-term loan.
The Portuguese went on to play a leading role for the the Spanish champions, establishing himself as a favourite of Hansi Flick and his staff. Barca, in turn, have long moved to make his signing a permanent one.
To date, a firm breakthrough has not been found in negotiations, as the two parties haggle over the details of the final transfer fee.
But as alluded to above, this week, an agreement appears closer than ever to being put in place once and for all. As per a report from Barcelona insider Adrian Sanchez:

#Barcelona #cancelo #agreement #transfer

FC Barcelona expects an offer to come in from Paris Saint-Germain for Ferran Torres this week according to SPORT. At Mundo Deportivo, they report that the club believes the striker is using the interest from the Champions League holders to earn a bigger contract.
FC Barcelona expects an offer to come in from Paris Saint-Germain for Ferran Torres this week according to SPORT. At Mundo Deportivo, Fernando Polo reports that the club believes the striker is using the interest from the Champions League holders to earn a bigger contract.
Ferran has angered Barça by using American media appearances to speak about his situation.
"Right now I have a contract with Barcelona," Torres said on the Today show. "But, honestly, in football you never know what can happen."
"I'm waiting to make the right decision. I still don't know. Yes, I have a dream club. I just want to be happy," he further added.

#torres #Paris #sport

Barcelona have spent the summer transfer window signing Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United and Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund.
They have also been very keen on signing Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid, with the Argentine emerging as Deco and Hansi Flick's dream striker target.
Barça have still not given up hope of signing the 26-year-old striker, with Deco in Madrid to hold talks with the player's camp and devise a strategy.
Now, according to journalist Joaquim Piera on SPORT, Barcelona had a genuine opportunity to sign Joao Pedro before Chelsea closed the door on a possible summer departure.
The Catalan club instead directed their resources towards Anthony Gordon and continued working on a move for Julian Alvarez.

#gordon #julian #alvarez #deco

The transfer market is reaching boiling point while institutional football goes through turbulent times. This August 5 comes loaded with top-level meetings in Madrid and Morocco, tensions in Vallecas, moves involving young South American prospects heading to Serie A, and an emotional tribute that has broken the hearts of both Barça and Milan fans alike.
FC Barcelona sporting director Deco has urgently traveled to Madrid to hold a summit meeting with Julián Álvarez's camp. The Blaugrana club is looking to draw up the final strategy and try to sign the Argentine striker before the market closes, with the player's own approval to push for his departure.
Franco Mastantuono's move to Fiorentina is on the verge of being unblocked. Real Madrid views a loan or a transfer with an option to buy for the Argentine gem to a top-level Serie A club very positively, in order to guarantee his development in a highly competitive league.
Milan turned out in force for the final and emotional farewell to legend Franco Baresi. Thousands of fans packed the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio for a funeral where historic figures such as Maldini, Van Basten, and Baggio said goodbye through tears and applause to the eternal Rossonero captain.
Gianni Infantino has called an emergency meeting in Rabat alongside top FIFA executives and figures such as Arsène Wenger. Pressure is mounting on the organization's president following disagreements with member ****** ociations over commercial plans and the global calendar.

#madrid #franco #market

The sports press this August 5 is reaching fever pitch, with the transfer market at the center of attention. From the Blaugrana board's lightning-fast negotiations in the capital to transfer records in Chamartín and the urgency on the benches in Valencia and Seville, the front pages of the country's leading newspapers review a decisive day for shaping the season.
FC Barcelona dominates the Catalan front pages. Both Sport ("Summit for Julián Álvarez") and Mundo Deportivo ("Barça stand firm") report on Deco's whirlwind trip to Madrid to meet with the Argentine forward's agent and speed up his signing.
Likewise, Mundo Deportivo reveals a full agreement between Real Madrid and Rodri for 75 million euros, while also detailing the Blaugrana club's stance on Ferran Torres, whom they will try to renew on reduced terms.
In Madrid, the white club's academy takes center stage. Diario AS leads with "The academy is a goldmine", celebrating the 189 million euros brought in by Real Madrid thanks to the departures of young talents such as Palacios and Gonzalo, making it the most profitable summer in the club's history.
Meanwhile, Marca focuses on Franco Mastantuono leaving for Fiorentina, Aston Villa's interest in Ruggeri, and the forceful remarks by Rayo Vallecano president Raúl Martín Presa about the future of Vallecas.

#mundo

The unlikely Manchester United reunion is close to completion.
When Marcus Rashford was unveiled by Barcelona in July 2025, at the start of a season-long loan, no-one expected he would find himself back at Old Trafford 12 months later.
United gave his coveted number 10 shirt to new arrival Matheus Cunha.
Rashford was also looking to the future as he ****** sed the move to Spain.
"[Manchester United] is in a period of change and have been for a while," the forward said at his Barca unveiling last summer.

#united #spain

Barcelona's newest signing officially completed his move on Tuesday as Jesse Bisiwu signed a five-year deal at the club's offices along with president Joan Laporta.
The 18-year-old joins from Club Brugge on a deal worth €8.5 million and will begin the season at Barça Atlètic while working regularly with the first team group throughout the campaign.
Bisiwu spoke to the club's media after the signing and once again made it clear he's there to work, learn and earn Hansi Flick's trust.
"My first few days have been great. I've been welcomed by a wonderful family and I'm very grateful for that. They've welcomed me so warmly, everyone is so friendly, and I'm very thankful.
"Being here and seeing it for myself is a different feeling, I'm very happy to be here. When I was young I always dreamed of playing for a big club like Barça, so being here is a dream come true for me.

#first

FC Barcelona have not given up. Not yet.
The Catalan club reportedly is aware that signing Julián Alvarez from Atlético Madrid will be very difficult. But they are said to have faith that the player's own will can make a difference.
The Argentine is expected to report back for Atlético preseason on August 10th. The Blaugrana are said to be watching like a hawk for movement on that front. They reportedly expect Alvarez will reiterate his desire to leave.
Still, even if Alvarez does make a move, Atlético can still say no. What's worse, the impasse becomes a risk for all parties the longer it goes on. Barcelona need to be able to sign a plan B if the deal falls through. The Madrid club need to find a replacement if he leaves. Alvarez himself will either stay in an awkward situation, or join preseason late for Barça. And all signs point to no quick resolution — if any comes at all.
For the Catalans, the reason they are still in pursuit is twofold. One, Alvarez is their number one choice and both he and the club have worked on the signing too long to just abandon it when the going gets tough. Two, other alternatives are either unavailable or prohibitively expensive.

#still #madrid #signing #make

Barcelona striker Ferran Torres has ruffled quite a few feathers with his interview regarding his future.
The talented forward has been linked with interest from French giants PSG, with Luis Enrique keen to reunite with a player he has previously coached in his career.
When asked about the European champions' interest in him, Ferran admitted that he was flattered and reiterated that Barça had to show that they wanted to keep him.
The Catalan club are yet to enter contract renewal talks with Ferran and are waiting until September to do so after the transfer window shuts.
However, going by the Spaniard's words, which the club are not happy about, they will have to act soon if they wish to keep him beyond 2027.

#keep

Dutch giants Ajax confirmed on Tuesday the signing of goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen on a season-long loan from Barcelona.
Ter Stegen was a request from new Ajax manager Míchel who worked briefly with the German at Girona at the end of last season before Ter Stegen suffered a hamstring injury that caused him to miss the World Cup.
The 34-year-old says he wants to help "bring Ajax back to where it belongs", and will be hoping to finally play a full season of football again after dealing with multiple major injuries in the last two years.
According to the latest reporting, Barça will cover 90% of Ter Stegen's salary during his time at Ajax but will be hoping that Ter Stegen's performances over a full season can convince Ajax or another club to sign him on a permanent deal next summer.
Good luck at Ajax, MATS!

#ajax #last #hoping

La Masia has been constantly producing talents ready for the first team for Barcelona in recent seasons, but that is not their only success story.
There are many other players who come through the famed academy but leave Barça in search of regular game time, going on to succeed at another club.
Among them is Sergi Dominguez. The 21-year-old left the Catalan club last summer in a €1.2 million transfer and enjoyed an impressive first season at Dinamo Zagreb.
One year on, Dominguez has established himself as one of the Croatian league's standout defenders, helping Dinamo win both the league and cup while earning a place in the division's Team of the Season.
Now, the former Barça defender has admitted that his long-term dream remains returning to the club.

#team #season

Barcelona have a major decision to make on Spanish forward Ferran Torres' future should he ask to leave the club this summer.
Ligue 1 champions PSG are interested in signing the 26-year-old and reuniting him with Luis Enrique, but Barça are so far not too keen to sell.
Ferran was asked about his future, and the Spaniard did not help ease nerves among the fans, leaving the door open to a potential exit.
Now, according to Catalunya Radio, Barcelona and Ferran Torres have entered a delicate waiting game over the forward's future, with neither side willing to make the first move before he returns to first-team duty.
There has been no direct contact so far between sporting director Deco and Ferran's representatives over either a renewal or a possible exit.

#luis

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick spoke to the press after the squad's final session of their training camp in England, and much of the conversation was about the club's search for a new striker.
The Catalans are still dreaming of Julián Álvarez but have also been linked with a number of other names, and Ferran Torres' possible exit to PSG also increases the urgency to sign a number nine.
Flick made it clear he does want a striker to be signed but was also very calm in his answer, saying he has "complete confidence" in sporting director Deco to get a deal over the line.
"It depends on the team. We have to wait. I have complete confidence in Deco and we know we have to do something. It also depends on [what happens with] Ferran. We'll see what we do."
Barça currently have Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Dani Olmo, Fermín López, Ferran and new signings Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi as forward options along with academy prospects Ebrima Tunkara and Hamza Abdelkarim, but Flick clearly wants a true striker profile to replace Robert Lewandowski.

#deco #number

Barcelona are set to make another signing as João Cancelo's permanent transfer from Al-Hilal will be completed in the coming days.
According to Diario SPORT, the deal is "imminent" as there has been a breakthrough in talks between Barça and the Saudi club this weekend and an agreement is expected to be reached for €10 million.
The Portuguese full-back was spotted training alone in Portugal this week instead of returning to the Al-Hilal squad after the World Cup, and reports from Saudi confirmed his absence was agreed with the club as his departure is finalized.
Cancelo's signing was considered a key piece of business for Barça this summer and a personal request from Hansi Flick, who thoroughly enjoyed working with Cancelo during his loan spell in the second half of last season.
Cancelo's arrival will trigger exits for younger full-backs, with Héctor Fort, Xavi Espart and Jofre Torrents all expected to leave on loan to get minutes elsewhere. Flick is planning next season's squad with Jules Kounde and Eric García at right-back and Cancelo sharing left-back duties with Alejandro Balde.

#hilal

FC Barcelona will not play the final friendly of their British tour following the cancellation of the scheduled match against Preston North End.
The match, which was due to be played behind closed doors this Monday, has been called off by the English club because they did not have enough players available.
According to radio network SER, Preston proposed completing the squad with reserve-team players, but Barça refused to play under those new conditions.
The only match played on the tour was last Friday's 2-2 draw against Birmingham City, settled by a brace from Hamza Abdelkarim. Hansi Flick's side will return to Barcelona several hours earlier than planned.
The next fixture will come on Saturday, August 8, with a triangular tournament against Nottingham Forest (9:00pm) and Udinese (10:00pm). Before their league opener, the Blaugrana will also play the Joan Gamper Trophy against Al Ahly on August 19.

#Barcelona #august

FC Barcelona reportedly won't stand in the way of Paris Saint-Germain signing Ferran Torres if he wants to leave.
FC Barcelona is now willing to let Ferran Torres join Paris Saint-Germain this summer according to MARCA, which cited anonymous sources.
The Spanish newspaper writes that the Catalans are waiting for an offer to arrive from the Qatar-backed outfit in order to study it. Nothing has come through so far, though Barça is aware of an unofficial approach from PSG for the scorer of Spain's winning goal at the 2026 World Cup.
With Robert Lewandowski now gone, and indeed scoring a brace on Saturday during a 2-1 comeback win for the Chicago Fire in his MLS debut, Barça ideally needs Ferran to stay from a sporting perspective.
Failed pursuits for Julian Alvarez and Junior Kroupi leave them understaffed up front. However if the 26-year-old wants to leave, Barça will not close the Spotify Camp Nou exit door to him.

#leave #marca

FC Barcelona's pursuit of Chelsea striker Joao Pedro has seen a key development this week as explained by The Athletic and Mundo Deportivo, citing anonymous sources.
FC Barcelona's pursuit of Chelsea striker Joao Pedro has seen a key development this week as explained by The Athletic and Mundo Deportivo, citing anonymous sources.
The former outlet has revealed that Chelsea - amid interest from Barça and ******* nal - is attempting to tie the Brazilian down by offering him a new contract.
Joao Pedro only joined the west London outfit last summer, in time for leading their Club World Cup-winning charge in the United States.
A bargain from Brighton for $67 million (£50 million), he penned a seven-year contract that runs until 2032 which is now reportedly set to be extended for another 12 months with presumably improved conditions.

#striker #development

Marc-André ter Stegen is one step away from becoming Ajax's new goalkeeper. Journalist Fabrizio Romano has confirmed the news with his trademark "Here we go," announcing that the signing will be made official this very weekend.
The deal went through moments of uncertainty due to disagreements between the two clubs. The high salary of the German international led to a tug-of-war over what percentage of his wages each side would cover.
In the end, the financial doubts faded after the final plan was clarified with Barça and the player's camp. Both boards gave the green light after resolving the financial split that had threatened the agreement.
The transfer timeline is already set: the goalkeeper is traveling to the Netherlands today. This Saturday he will undergo the required medical examination and put pen to paper on the official contract.
"There were never any doubts," Romano declared, sealing one of the biggest bombshells of the transfer window. Ter Stegen is now beginning a new chapter between the sticks in Amsterdam, bringing his long spell in Barcelona to an end.

#goalkeeper

Gerard Martín is not too bothered with Real Madrid making big headlines this summer and believes Barcelona will remain competitive this season.
The defender, who became a starter last season as a center-back and is poised to play a big role this season, was asked in a radio interview about Madrid's busy time in the market.
Barça's main rivals brought in José Mourinho as manager and signed Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries, Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva and Yan Diomandé in a high-profile transfer in the last few days, but Martín is not paying a lot of attention to those moves.
"Frankly, I don't care who they sign. I'm focused on us, what's in our hands. Let them sign whoever they want, we'll go and compete."
It's very easy to confuse activity with competence, and Madrid's big signings after bringing in a new manager are an attempt to fix the mess of last season, when they… made big signings after bringing in a new manager.

#mart #bringing #gerard #madrid

FC Barcelona statement – FC Barcelona
The FC Barcelona Board of Directors met Wednesday, 29 July, for an ordinary meeting at the Club's installation, headed by first vice-president Rafael Yuste in the absence of president Joan Laporta, who excused his absence.
More training at St. George's Park – FC Barcelona
Another session for the Barça squad, their fourth in England during their preseason training camp.
INSIDE VIEW | Raphinha joins the group – FC Barcelona
Brazilian arrives in Birmigham while his teammates continue to step up the training.
Alejandro Balde: 'If we can win more trophies, better' – FC Barcelona
Barça defender Alejandro Balde answered fans' questions live from St. George's Park on the FC Barcelona YouTube channel on Wednesday during the squad's preseason training camp in England.
Nuhu Fofana, Blaugrana until 2030 – FC Barcelona
Agreement reached between FC Barcelona and forward Nuhu Fofana to extend his contract for a further four seasons, meaning he is now set to stay with the Club until 30 June 2030.

#alejandro #nuhu

According to a report from Matteo Moretto (as captured by Sport journalist Jordi Carné), former Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka might be trying to capitalize on the recent injury to Frenkie de Jong and has offered himself to his old boss, Hansi Flick, and FC Barcelona:
In recent hours, for example, FC Barcelona has received an offer worth considering. According to Matteo Moretto on "La Pizarra de Quintana," Leon Goretzka, a free agent after his contract with Bayern Munich expired, has made himself available to the Blaugrana club. The midfielder's entourage—he played a supporting role for the German national team at the World Cup—has expressed openness to joining the Blaugrana project following De Jong's tear of the medial collateral ligament in his right knee.
This isn't the first time Goretzka has offered his services to Barça in recent months.
Do not expect Goretzka to land in Catalonia, though. Carné says that FC Barcelona is not looking to add anything to the central midfield, so Goretzka will have to continue his search elsewhere.
As for where he might land, Goretzka's future could be determined by injuries that occur this summer. As of now, the midfielder is rumored to be focusing on European teams, but could eventually accept a fate that includes MLS.

#carn #bayern

FC Barcelona have officially confirmed the contract renewal of promising striker Nuhu Fofana, with the 18-year-old signing a new four-year deal that will keep him at the club until 2030.
The agreement was completed one day after Fofana celebrated his 18th birthday and marks another step in Barcelona's long-term commitment to developing talent from La Masia.
As part of the renewal, the forward will become a full member of Barça Atletic and has already begun pre-season training under Juliano Belletti.
Fofana's contract signing took place at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper alongside Jose Ramon Alexanco, Barcelona's director of youth football.
His journey with the club has come full circle. After spending his early years at Barcelona as a Pre-benjamín and Benjamín player, Fofana later left the academy before rebuilding his reputation at Cornella, where his goalscoring ability caught the attention of the Blaugrana.

#Barcelona #contract #signing #nuhu

A trio of up-and-coming young talents at La Liga giants Barcelona have turned the heads of the club's coaching staff with their performances in pre-season.
Hansi Flick and co. are of course currently hard at work, amid early preparations for the fast-approaching 2026/27 campaign.
Barca have to date been forced to make do without a whole host of their leading stars in training, owing to their respective efforts at this summer's World Cup.
This has opened the door for a number of youngsters to step up, afforded the chance to impress with sights on a first-team berth next season.
And as alluded to above, amid these efforts, three such starlets have already done enough to catch the eye…

#season

Julian Alvarez's future is no clearer to being resolved even though we are inching closer and closer to the start of the new La Liga season.
The Argentina international said during the World Cup "the best thing for everyone is a transfer" but Atletico have made it clear they don't agree, while Barcelona are hoping they might change their minds.
Barca reporter Achraf Ben Ayad has summarized the situation and says Alvarez has three options available to him to resolve the situation.
He posted on X: "Julián's situation is complicated. He has three options ahead of him: Apologize and try to mend his relationship with Atlético. Take an extra step for the sake of Barcelona. Agree with Atlético to bring in a strong offer from outside Spain in order to leave."
Atletico do seem to be willing to mend the relationship with their striker, as CEO Gil Marin has said he has "no doubt that Atlético is the right place in the world for Julián, and Julián is the perfect striker for Atlético de Madrid."

#tico #agree #three

According to SPORT, FC Barcelona do not consider Ferran Torres' future to be an immediate issue. The club have already outlined their strategy regarding the forward and have no intention of changing course.
Ferran's current contract expires on 30 June, and Barcelona have informed his representatives that they are willing to offer him a new deal.
However, formal negotiations are expected to begin in September in order to avoid complications linked to the club's salary cap.
It is an approach the club has followed before and one that will also apply to Marc Bernal, who is awaiting an improved contract extension.
If Ferran wishes to leave, whether because of reported interest from PSG or any other club, Barça believe the initiative must come from the player. He would need to request a meeting with the club to discuss his future and reach a decision.

#future #contract #according #torres

Barcelona have completed two summer signings so far, bringing in Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United and Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund.
The former is still away on holiday as he continues to recover after an impressive World Cup, but Adeyemi is already with Barça and training with the team.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the German attacker is expected to make his first appearance as a Barcelona player this Friday after Hansi Flick decided that he is ready for match action.
Adeyemi will debut against Birmingham City after completing another productive week of training during Barcelona's pre-season camp at St George's Park in England.
The 24-year-old was named on the bench for Barcelona's friendly against CE Europa last week after arriving with limited training behind him.

#gordon #united #borussia

According to Ferran Correas of SPORT, FC Barcelona have placed their full trust in the development of teenage midfield prodigy Guille Fernandez, with the club's sporting department mapping out a specific, multi-stage blueprint to secure his long-term future at the club.
The Blaugrana sporting department is working intensively to conclude a comprehensive contract renewal for the 18-year-old midfielder before actively sanctioning a temporary loan move to guarantee him regular first-team minutes.
The decision to prioritise Guille's contract extension reflects the immense regard in which he is held by the technical staff.
Having progressed rapidly through the ranks of La Masia, the midfielder made waves across Spanish football by breaking several long-standing youth records, including eclipsing Lamine Yamal to become the youngest debutant in Barça Atletic history at just 15 years and 9 months.
Guille Fernandez (R) is rated highly at Barcelona. (Photo courtesy: X/FCBarcelonaB)

#Barcelona #fernandez #midfielder

Gerard Pique has never been afraid to speak his mind and, even after retirement, his commitment and loyalty to Barcelona simply do not fade.
The legendary Spanish defender believes Barcelona head into the new season as Spain's strongest team, insisting Hansi Flick's side still hold the edge over Real Madrid despite their rivals' activity in the transfer market.
Speaking to the media (h/t SPORT) during the Kings League Club World Cup in Milan, the former Barcelona defender backed his old club to begin the campaign as La Liga favourites.
Pique pointed to continuity and recent success as the biggest reasons behind his confidence and did not hesitate when asked to compare the two Spanish giants.
"I think Barça, today and at the start of La Liga, are still superior," he said.

#Barcelona #gerard