Messi Sees Lack Of Support At Barcelona - Dani Alves

Former Barcelona right-back Dani Alves believes that Barcelona star  Lionel Messi is growing frustrated with the fact that he consistently has to lift the team.

The Argentine's exasperation came to the fore on Thursday night as he did the post-match interview after Barcelona's 2-1 defeat at home to Osasuna, which came on a night that Real Madrid became LaLiga Santander champions.

"He's a born winner, he doesn't like to lose and it's normal to get angry," Alves told Catalunya Radio.

"He wants to win every time, like me.

"He's been doing it for so long that you can tell when your team is giving [that feeling] and when it's not.

"That's why he said it, he's been at Barcelona for many years and he's aware of what he needs to be able to win and aspire to great things.

"He sees, what I feel, and that's a lack of support.

"Messi was the main course, but we were the perfect ingredients [in the past].

"He always wants to be on top and you need people to build that.

"The feeling now is that he always has to be doing everything for the team and he's only human."

So, does the Brazilian think that Messi could leave?

"No, I don't think so," Alves responded.

"He's the face of this club, of this team and it would be the biggest mistake the club would ever make [if he left].

"It would be a mistake for such a player not to retire there and change the name of Camp Nou to Leo Messi."

Neymar has been strongly linked with a return to Barcelona in the last couple of summers, and Alves admitted to trying to convince his compatriot to join the Catalan side once again.

"The only one I've tried to convince is Neymar to go to Barcelona," he explained.

"He had a very big offer from Real Madrid, and I told him that if he wanted to be happy he should come to Barcelona.

"It's the only time I've ever convinced anyone of anything.

"If I were him, I would come back without thinking about it.

"I never think that people make mistakes when they make a decision.

"Everyone knows that Ney can help Barcelona, Messi and the club to become a giant again in LaLiga, in Europe... and football is becoming more and more balanced.

"The team has 11 and with Messi you have 13.

"The team has 11 and with Neymar you have 13."

The 37-year-old departed in 2016 as he joined Juventus on a free, but he is not happy about the way his exit was handled.

"I'm not a selfish, spiteful person," Alves stated.

"Of course I miss Barcelona, and I always will, because it's my home.

"The other day I said to my people that I was at Barcelona for eight years and I basically left out the back door.

"That bittersweet taste of asking you what else there is to do remains.

"I felt hurt at the time because I was doing so much at Barcelona and they didn't want to give me a new contract.

"I had just had my best season. I did not feel valued.

"Real Madrid, and other teams, offered me double and I decided to go to Barcelona [when I left Sevilla]; I wanted to have the right to make the decision to leave [when the time finally arrived].

"I wanted to go out the front door.

"I was left with this situation that I didn't like.

"I'm not bitter, I'm a pure and clean soul.

"When I left, as I said on another occasion, my thought was to go and prove my worth elsewhere and then come back.

"That's why I dedicated myself double and even triple."

Alves ended up spending just one year at Juventus as he made the move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, again on a free, but there was some talk that he could have returned to Barcelona in the last few years, so was it true?

"Things were being talked about, but nothing ever came of it," Alves confirmed.

"I'm not bitter, but they are anyway [laughs]."

Xavi Hernandez has been strongly tipped to take charge at Barcelona, most likely depending on the results of the presidential elections in 2021, and Alves is excited about the Blaugrana's future is his former teammate takes charge.

"It will be Barcelona's 3.0 version," he noted.

"A team is not just 11, it's not just a coach... it's the conjugation of all those verbs.

"That's how you make a great team invincible: when it's in tune."

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Arsenal 'In Advanced Talks For Philippe Coutinho Swap Deal

Arsenal are in talks with Barcelona over a proposed deal for Philippe Coutinho which could involve Matteo Guendouzi moving the other way.

Phillipe Coutinho has been in the frame of transfer lately, he's poised for a return to the Premier League ahead of next summer, with the former Liverpool attacker surplus to requirements at Camp Nou.

Chelsea, Tottenham, Leicester City and Newcastle United have all been linked with the 28-year-old, as well as FA Cup hopefuls Arsenal.

Matteo Guendouzi's Emirates future in doubt after the midfielder was dropped by boss Mikel Arteta following his antics against Brighton last month against Maupay.

Arsenal and Barcelona are in talks over a swap deal involving the two players, according to Foot Mercato.

The publication says Arsenal technical director Edu has long courted Coutinho, while Guendouzi has been held in similar esteem by Barcelona chiefs.

Barcelona are keen to get Coutinho off the wage bill with the midfielder having failed to hit the heights he enjoyed at Liverpool since his transfer to Catalonia in January 2018.

The Brazilian is contracted to Barcelona until 2023.

In a straight cash deal he would cost upwards of £60million, which would be a stretch for Arsenal given the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, with Arteta having been told he must sell before he can buy this summer.

Therefore, the Gunners boss must find more creative solutions - and a swap between Coutinho and Guendouzi is likely after the French midfielder was left out of the squad for Arsenal's last eight games.

Arsenal's priority this summer is signing defenders and then holding midfielders.

However, the Gunners have an unusual relationship with Coutinho via his agent which could help engineer the move.

Kia Joorabchian is an Arsenal fan and is good friends with Edu. He also represents Gunners defenders David Luiz and Cedric Soares.

It remains to be seen whether Joorabchian's relationship with Arsenal and Coutinho's desire to return to the Premier League come together for what would be one of the most sensational transfers of the summer.

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Pjanic Medical Takes Place In Turin As Barcelona Transfer Moves Closer

Barcelona star Arthur Melo has arrived in Turin ahead of his medical, while Miralem Pjanic will have his Barcelona medical in Turin as well.

The Brazilian landed at the Caselle Airport in Turin via private plane late on Saturday night.

According to Spanish newspaper Sport, he was accompanied by family members and former Barcelona director Robert Fernandez.

He will complete a transfer worth €70m, as Pjanic is going to Barcelona with an additional €10m cash sum.

It’s believed Arthur’s contract with Juve will be worth up to €7m per year, including performance-related bonuses.

The two clubs are rushing to get the deal finalised by June 30 so that it counts for the 2019-20 financial year.

These players will see out the season at their current clubs, not making the transfer until the 2020-21 season.

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Barcelona Mount Pressure On Arthur To Accept A Swap Deal With Juventus' For Pjanic'

Spanish giant Barcelona are cranking up the heat on midfielder Arthur to accept a swap deal with Juventus' Miralem Pjanic, according to reports in Spain.

The Catalan giants have taken a heavy financial hit amidst the lethal Covid-19 pandemic, with their players taking hefty pay cuts to support other staffs at the club.

Barcelona and Juventus are continuing to struggle over the transfer fee, with Pjanic reportedly determined to join Barcelona after supposedly turning down advances from Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.

But so far Arthur has refused to move in the opposite direction, and according to Spanish outlet SPORT, Barcelona cannot keep waiting and are now turning up the pressure on Arthur to accept the move to Italy.

The Brazilian came on as a second-half substitute in the club's 4-0 win at Real Mallorca on Saturday, with boss Quique Setien preferring to start with Arturo Vidal, who scored the opening goal of the evening.

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Messi, Griezman, Suarez...... Barcelona Stars Return To Training

First-team players of Barcelona, led by the captain, Lionel Messi, arrived at the Esportiva in Sant Joan Despi on Friday to resume training. 

After testing negative in Wednesday's coronavirus tests, the players were able to resume individual training ahead of a potential La Liga return in June. 

Each player arrived in their respective vehicles with masks and gloves on, already dressing in their training kits, which had been given to them earlier this week in sealed bags. 

They headed straight to the training pitched without using facilities like the dressing rooms or the showers and headed straight back to their card after their individual sessions. 

Players began arriving from 09.30am, with the squad using different pitches, such as the Tito Vilanova pitch, Pitch 2 and Pitch 3, in order to respect social distancing protocol. 

Meanwhile, Luis Suarez continued with his recovery work with the hope of being given the green light to return to action as soon as possible. 

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Barcelona Have Reached An Agreement With Juventus Over Pjanic

Juventus playmaker Pjanic has reached an agreement with Barcelona, but there are doubts about which players would be offer in exchange, reports Gazzetta dello Sport.

Juventus admire Arthur, but the Brazilian midfielder has no intention of leaving. Both Arthur and Pjanic are valued at €60 million so it would be a capital gain for both clubs.

Vidal & Rakitic are offered by Barcelona, but Catalans would be forced to pay a value difference of €45m for the players who are worth only €15m. Moreover, the Italian champs are not convinced by the two veterans.

Semedo would be very comfortable at Juve, valued at €35m with a difference of €25m. Yet to see which of these players would be prepared to move.

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