After scoring against Slavia Praha, Argentine magician Lionel "Merciless" Messi has become the first player in Champions League history ever to score at least once in every 15 consecutive seasons in the European competition.
The 32-year-old Barcelona forward and captain is still on the way to making more histories!
Hector Bellerin has attempted to call time on "crazy" rumours linking him with a move away from the Emirates as he prepares for Unai Emery's first season in charge.
Bellerin, 23, joined the Gunners in 2011 as a teenager having come through Barcelona's famed La Masia academy.
After a loan spell at Watford he broke into the Arsene Wenger's first team in 2014, making 20 Premier League appearances as a 19-year-old.
He has persistently been linked with a return to Barca in subsequent years, and the arrival of Stephan Lichtsteiner earlier in the transfer window has led to further speculation involving Juventus and Manchester United.
However, speaking to reporters in Singapore at the launch of Arsenal's third kit on Friday, the Spain international looked to end the transfer talk.
"It is crazy that people ask me these questions all the time," Bellerin said.
"A few years ago I signed a very long-term contract. I have never said that I have wanted to be anywhere else.
"I am very happy in London. I am very happy at this club.
"The club have made me who I am and gave me the chance to be the footballer I am today. So I don't want to be anywhere else."
Emery took charge of his second game this pre-season as the Gunners lost on penalties to Atletico Madrid in the International Champions Cup on Thursday.
And Bellerin recognised the importance of giving the new head coach time to impose his philosophy.
"At all the teams that he's been at, it's all about being very competitive and really tight at the back," said the defender.
"The important thing at the start is to allow everyone to get in sync with the new coaches and staff. If we do that, everything is going to work and we can challenge for very big things in the future."
Juventus midfielder Miralem Pjanic has distanced himself from reports suggesting he could be the next big signing for Barcelona or Chelsea, insisting he wants to continue his impressive progress in Turin.
While Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola ruled out a move for the Bosnia-Herzegovina international, he continues to attract attention from the Premier League and LaLiga.
Pjanic has been an integral part of Massimiliano Allegri's midfield since his arrival from Roma for €32million in 2016, scoring 10 goals in 61 Serie A appearances as he helped Juventus to consecutive league titles.
His good form, coupled with the €100m addition of Cristiano Ronaldo to Allegri's ranks, fuelled speculation over a move to Camp Nou or Stamford Bridge, but the 28-year-old remains focused on Juve.
"I listen to a lot of things that are not true," Pjanic told ESPN. "I'm cool. I'm preparing my new season. That's what's the most important.
"What I did the last two seasons for Juventus was really great, and I am happy what I'm doing here."
Pjanic expressed his excitement about lining up alongside Ronaldo, highlighting the Portugal forward's impeccable track record at Real Madrid and Manchester United as he looked forward to seeing him in black and white.
"We are happy that he's there," said Pjanic.
"I think Juve made a big signing, and the team are happy, he's happy, so I think he will do what he did also in the past, what he did at Man United and Real Madrid.
"He won a lot of titles. He did big and great things, and I think he will continue like that.
"He's a great player, and I think he can help his new club a lot. I think he will give a lot to Juventus."
Ballou Tabla has become the first Montreal Impact academy product to be sold to Europe, with Barcelona snapping up the 18-year-old.
Barcelona have secured the signing of Canadian youngster Ballou Tabla from Montreal Impact on an initial three-year deal.
Ballou is said to have been tracked by Barça for several months after establishing himself as an emerging talent in Major League Soccer.
Montreal Impact's youngest ever player
The 18-year-old made 21 appearances in MLS last year, becoming the youngest player in Montreal's history and doing enough to catch the eye of Barça.
A right midfielder by trade, Ballou will join Barça's 'B' team in Spain's second tier, with the side occupying the final relegation spot in the table after 23 matches.
The Ivory Coast-born Canada Under-20 international has signed on for an initial three years with the option of another two.
25-million-euro release clause
His release clause is set at 25 million euros, but that will be increased to 75m should Barca take up the option of the two-year extension.
SOURCE: ALL FOOTBALL
Rafinha pushed for a loan move to Inter with option to buy because “he simply wants to play,” said the Barcelona midfielder’s father Mazinho.
The deal is done with an option to buy for €35m and Rafinha is expected in Milan either today or tomorrow, where he’ll be in the stands for the Sunday night Serie A match against Roma at San Siro.
“Rafinha wants to join Inter because he simply wants to play,” Mazinho told Globo Esporte.
“It’s very difficult to get into the side in Barcelona, as there are so many players. He also had the bad luck of getting that knee injury over the last two years.
“He just wants to play, feel happy and do what he loves in an excellent club like Inter.”
There is an option to buy, although there are mixed reports as to whether it can be obligatory if Inter qualify for the Champions League.
“Rafinha has a contract with Barcelona until 2020. We are drawing up a pre-contract with Inter until 2021,” added Mazinho, himself a former Serie A player.
Barcelona have announced their squad for Copa del Rey quarter-final first leg clash against Espanyol, as Andres Iniesta and Javier Mascherano are not included due to injury.
As announced by Barcelona, Andrés Iniesta suffers from a soleus injury in his right leg while Javier Mascherano has a left thigh trouble.
Other notable injured absentees are Samuel Umtiti, Paco Alcácer, Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembélé.
New signing Yerry Mina still has paperwork to sort out before he is clear to play, and Gerard Deulofeu also miss out.
Barcelona squad
GK: Ter Stegen, Cillessen
DF: Semedo, Piqué, Jordi Alba, Digne, Sergi Roberto, Aleix Vidal, Vermaelen
MF: Rakitic, Sergio Busquets, Denis Suárez, Rafinha, Paulinho, André Gomes, Carles Aleñá
FW: Luis Suárez, Messi
SOURCE: All Football
Yerry Fernando Mina González (born 23 September 1994) is a professional Colombian footballer who plays as a center back for Brazilian club Palmeiras.
He began at Deportivo Pasto in 2013, quickly making a name for himself and establishing himself as a starter.
Palmeiras confirmed that they had signed Yerry Mina on May 1st 2016. He made his debut for the club on 4 July playing a full 90 minutes in a 1-3 victory over Sport Recife. His first goal for the Alviverde arrived in the following fixture, a 1-1 draw against Santos.
Mina was however substituted off just before the end of the first half due to an apparent injury which had left the defender in tears as he exited the field on a stretcher.
On 13 July it was confirmed that Mina would not recover in time for the 2016 Summer Olympics, with the expectancy of the injury estimated to be 6-8 weeks. In his debut season in Palmeiras he made the 2016 Serie A TOTY and was named the best defender.
Meanwhile, he's become a key part of Jose Pekerman's Colombia side.
Source: All Football
Gerard Pique has warned Manchester rivals United and City that Barcelona expect Samuel Umtiti to remain at the club for “many more years”.
The two Premier League heavyweights are reported to have identified the France international defender as top target during the January transfer window.
Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola are aware that Umtiti has a £55 million release clause in his contract at Camp Nou and are considering approaches which could trigger an exit.
Pique, though, remains confident that Barca can fend off any interest and that Umtiti will remain his centre-back partner in Catalunya for the foreseeable future.
The former United defender told reporters on rumours linking a 24-year-old talent with a switch to England: “I’m not worried about what clubs might or might not do.
“Umtiti is a great player and we expect him to stay at Barca for many more years and for him to enjoy his football with us.
“To an extent, the buyout clause is made high so that you can’t buy the player. As time goes by, that fee doesn’t seem so high at all, but the player still has to want to leave.
“We’re very happy with Umtiti and I’m sure he’s going to stay here for a very long time.”
Umtiti is currently out of action with a hamstring injury picked up against Celta Vigo on December 2.
He was expected to be sidelined for around eight weeks and has only recently returned to training with the Barcelona squad.
No indication has been offered that he is open to a move away from the La Liga giants, with his current contract set to take him through to the summer of 2021.
Source: All Football
Wantaway Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano is finally set to leave the Liga giants after the club accepted a bid for the player from the CSL outfit Hebei China Fortune, Goal understands.
The two clubs have been wrangling hard over the final transfer fee, with Barca demanding at least €10 million for the Argentinian. However, Hebei China Fortune are reluctant to pay more than €5.77 million, which would trigger a 100 per cent levy on the payment for the transfer.
The Chinese Football Association announced last June that any loss-making club in China's top two divisions that pays more than 45 million yuan (€5.77 million) for a foreign player transfer must pay the same amount to a CFA youth development fund.
The CFA made its presence felt on Tuesday by issuing a harsh warning that it would severely punish clubs who flagrantly violate its transfer rules, following reports that Guangzhou Evergrande and Beijing Guoan are engaging in a bidding war over Borussia Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Sources have told Goal that Hebei China Fortune held their ground in protracted negotiations with Barcelona for fear of incurring the wrath of the CFA, and eventually managed to convince the Blaugrana to accept a fee less than €5.77 million for Mascherano.
The 33-year-old is set to earn €7m-per-year in Hebei where his compatriot Ezequiel Lavezzi and former Arsenal forward Gervinho also ply their trade.
Coutinho penned a five-and-a-half-year contract with Barca on Monday, after the Catalans forked out £146m to prise the Brazilian away from his employers at Merseyside.
The signing brought an end to a transfer saga that saw Liverpool reject a number of bids in August. Coutinho admits the Reds did everything they could to hold on to him, but his dream was always to sign for Barcelona.
"I just want to thank the club for its patience and its effort," said the 25-year-old, according to Sky Sports. "I'm very happy, this is a dream come true for me and I hope to live up to the expectations."
"They understood that it was what I wanted. They did all they could to try to keep me, but in the end they understood that it was my dream, and the dream of my family, to come here.
"I just would like to thank all the fans, all the staff and all the players for the years I lived there.
"For sure, I gave everything I could. Unfortunately we could not win but I lived [in Liverpool] for five years and my family was very happy there. So I just would like to thank them and wish them all the best."
33-year-old Andre Iniesta has ended speculation over his future at the Catalans in November as he penned a new contract with the club, and is expected to see out his career at Barca.
However, the Spaniard is aware that he has entered the twilight of his career and could hang up his boots in the near future.
“It's not that I considered leaving Barcelona," he told Marca.
“I’m just in a position where I now try and enjoy each day.
“I’m aware that I'm at an age where every year I need some time for myself, to make a decision on the future.
“I am honest with myself and this club has given me everything, so I am grateful.”
Iniesta came through the Barcelona youth system before making his senior debut in 2002. He has made 643 appearances for the Blaugrana in all competitions.
Rivaldo picks Lionel Messi as the world's best. The Brazilian International has had his say ahead of El Clasico this weekend in one of the biggest rivalries in world football.
Former Barcelona midfielder Rivaldo believes Lionel Messi is the best player in the world but has praised Real Madrid hitman Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of this weekend's El Clasico clash.
The two powers of Spanish football will lock horns on Saturday afternoon in another chapter of one of the world's most iconic sporting rivalries, with Barca playing catch up in the overall head-to-head rankings.
Real have come out on top in 72 of their 174 La Liga meetings with Barca and have a greater trophy collection than the Catalan outfit, though trail Ernesto Valverde's side in the table this term.
The tie will also see Messi and Ronaldo square up once again in what has now become a story within the tale of the Clasico.
Questioned on the pair - arguably the two finest players to have ever played the game - Rivaldo, who won two Liga titles whilst playing for Barca, admits that one is a cut above the other.
"I would like to play with Messi, it would be amazing. He is the best of the world, the one who makes more differences," Rivaldo told Betfair.
"Ronaldo? He is the most dangerous player at Real.
"It is hard to stop him, like Messi, because both score a lot of goals and you never know what is going to be the next thing they will invent for scoring."
Ronaldo collected his fifth Ballon d'Or trophy earlier this month, equalling a record previously set by Messi.
The rivalry has been a common sub-plot in previous Clasico derbies and a number of bodies associated with Barcelona have publically backed Messi as the best in the world following Ronaldo winning the award.
And while Rivaldo recognises the Portugal international's success, he believes that he may not have won the award if he was playing during the time of the Brazilian's peak.
"If Ronaldo won is because he deserved it," Rivaldo added. "In my time there were more players than today challenging for being the best in the world.
" I remember Figo, Del Piero or Totti, now you always hear about the same players and I am pretty sure I could challenge with Messi and Ronaldo because football was harder in my times.
"I am not here for controversy, I'll just say that both are very good players. However, in my time you could find more quality players than today, in which you only hear about Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar."
Pushed on picking a winner ahead of the weekend, he added: "In a Clasico there are no favourites, because Real have shown they are able to win at Camp Nou, while Barca know how to do that at Bernabeu
SOURCE: All Football
Argentina attacker Lionel Messi received the Pichchi and Di Stefano awards at a gala in Barcelona on Monday night, but was already looking ahead to the league clash with Los Merengues at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.
Barca have already opened up an 11-point lead over Real Madrid in the race for the Spanish Primera Division title, but Messi wants to make it 14 points and send the Blaugrana to their Christmas celebrations on a high.
"It would be important to win for what it means, it's always a special game," said Messi, as quoted by the Daily Star.
"Real Madrid, their stadium... winning is an important advantage.
"There would still be a lot of league games left, but it would be nice to be able to end the year with a victory and spend a happy Christmas."
Barcelona lead the standings ahead of Saturday’s La Liga clash against Real Madrid, who return to Spain as Club World Cup champions.
Barca are eight points ahead of fourth-placed Madrid heading into the tie at the Bernabeu, with Atletico Madrid the closest challengers three points below in second place having played a game more.
"I don't think a Clasico victory will give us the title," said Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde. "Atletico are only six points behind.
"What we know is that this is a long competition, nobody will decide anything at this point.
"We're heading into the game happy. We have a week of preparation left and are confident. It's a tough game against a huge rival, but we're eager to face them."
Madrid recently defeated Brazilian side Gremio 1-0 to claim the FIFA Club World Cup trophy, leading the goal scorer in that final, Cristiano Ronaldo, to state that Barca should form a guard of honour ahead of El Clasico.
Both sides have performed the ritual to applaud the other’s success in La Liga or the Champions League, but Barca director Guillermo Amor ruled it out.
"We make it clear that we only do this when we participate in the competition," Amor said after Barca beat Deportivo La Coruna 4-0 on Sunday.
"When we compete in the competition, we will do it but that is not the case. That's the way it is."
It's International break of the season and Barcelona remain one of the strongest teams in Europe.
Though doubts arises in the last few matches about the style of play and their theoretical goalscorer, Luis Suarez, who is enduring his worst goal drought since arriving at the Camp Nou in 2014, the Blaugrana have reversed the dark times since losing against Real Madrid (3-1 and 2-0) in the Supercopa de Espana.
Ernesto Valverde's side lead LaLiga with a four-point advantage over Valencia and also occupy top spot in their Champions League group, which includes the runner-up of the competition last season, Juventus.
In Europe, only two teams can be compared to Messi and Co.
The first is Paris Saint-Germain, who have a brilliant front three and the most goals on the continent from Neymar, Edinson Cavani and Kylian Mbappe.
Manchester City, a very prominent leader in the Premier League, are the other.
Pep Guardiola's team have, like Barcelona, 31 points in 11 games (10 wins and a draw).
Barcelona's defence is one of the main aspects to their great start and strong statistics this season.
Since that painful Supercopa defeat, Marc-Andre ter Stegen has only conceded five goals; four in the league and one in the Champions League.
It is the least amount of goals conceded in Europe.
The German is enjoying a great moment with his club, as many of his world-class saves have given the Catalans some important results.
For example, the Blaugrana would not have drawn at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano nor would they have claimed the three points at the Estadio San Mames against Athletic Club.
84 minutes behind
PSG and Manchester City both surpass Barcelona in terms of minutes spent losing.
The Blaugrana have been behind for a total of 84 minutes (out of 1,440), which occurred during their fixture against Atletico Madrid.
Guardiola's group have spent a total of 68 minutes behind with PSG losing for only 45 minutes of the 2017/18 season.
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Barcelona have made first attempt to contact Gerard Pique about his renewal
Reports say that talks are in its initial phase. Club's negotiation team is formed by football manager Pep Segura and general manager Oscar Grau.
Pique's current contract ends in 2019. And his buyout fee is €200m.
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The Daily Telegraph report that Barca are showing interest in the France international as they face having to reshape their midfield next summer.
They are looking for a long term replacement for Andres Iniesta, and with their pursuit of Philippe Coutinho continuing to be frustrated by Liverpool, are now considering Lemar instead.
Arsenal almost signed Lemar on transfer deadline day in the summer for a club record £90million, and although the deal fell through the Gunners remain keen.
There is a complication, however, in that Arsenal were only able to bid £90m after accepting a bid for Alexis Sanchez, which also fell through.
Sanchez is set to leave on a free next summer, along with Mesut Ozil, with both showing little inclination to extend contracts that expire in 2018. The situation leaves the Gunners short of funds.
