FOOTBALL

Neymar Wanted Barcelona Return, says Laporta

Published

3 years ago

September 8, 2021

admin

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has acknowledged Barca’s endeavors to bring back Neymar, one of the biggest names to have played for the Blaugrana in the modern era, before Lionel Messi’s departure.

Laporta’s predecessor Josep Maria Bartomeu desperately wanted Neymar’s return to the Camp Nou.

Laporta confirms he followed up that ambition and attempted to lure the Brazil international back to Catalonia. The 59-year-old also claims that Neymar was willing to come back.

Speculations have always been rife of an emphatic return ever since Neymar moved on to the French capital in 2017 for a world record fee of €222 million in 2017.

Various outlets reported that Neymar has realized his ‘’mistake’’ after joining Paris Saint-Germain and is eager for a reunion with his former Barcelona peers.

Rumors finally stopped after Neymar put pen on paper to a new PSG contract in May.

Laporta clarifies

Laporta discloses there was a mutual willingness for a Barcelona return up until that point.

Laporta shed light on the situation in a recent sit-down with Esport 3.

After the interviewer asked him about the club’s interest in re-signing Neymar, Laporta replied in the affirmative and insisted it was Neymar himself who started the communication.

‘’Yes, we tried to sign Neymar again. He contacted us and wanted to come.’’

Barcelona’s financial limitations, however, couldn’t lead the deal to fruition. Eventually, Neymar renewed his commitment with PSG signing a new deal.

According to reports, the new contract, which runs till 2025, offers an annual wage of €50.6 million. Currently, Barcelona is not in the right financial shape to pay such astronomical wages, having asked their players to take a pay cut.

Even if Neymar agreed to take a lower salary, the club couldn’t have afforded the hefty transfer fee that PSG would have demanded.

To balance their books, Barcelona had to let go of their star players like Messi and Antoine Griezmann.

Ansu Fati – the new hope

The club is focusing on a youth-based rebuild and hopes youngsters like Ansu Fati will live up to the challenge.

The 18-year-old wonderkid has recently returned from a lengthy injury layoff and has inherited the number 10 jersey.

Ansu Fati was handed over Messi’s iconic 10 jersey

Laporta has made it clear that Fati is central to the current Barcelona project, and the club will not sell him under any circumstances.

Fati has drawn interest from several European powerhouses, but Laporta rules out a recent move.

Laporta expressed his optimism that Barcelona will not have to be under austerity very long and the club will regain its financial pull very soon.

The Barca president didn’t name-drop, but he stated that the club will be more ambitious next season.

“Next year we will be able to sign more normally and have more ambitious goals.”

Barcelona have been heavily linked with Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland.

If Kylian Mbappe joins Real Madrid next season, Haaland would be the perfect choice for Barca to match the marquee signing of Real Madrid.

FOOTBALL

WATCH: Georgina Rodriguez makes huge claim on Cristiano Ronaldo’s retirement in Football

Published

9 months ago

March 3, 2024

admin

Georgina Rodriguez made a huge claim on the future of her husband and star player, Cristiano Ronaldo, in Football. In a brief interaction with a host recently, Rodriguez was asked about the time left for Cristiano to make an impact at the highest level. Georgina looked honest in her approach to the question of the host and claimed something the fans would not love to hear.

Georgina claimed that the Portugal star has maybe one year more from him at the highest level. She felt that Ronaldo might play two more years before retiring and not more than that. She was however not sure if he would play for just one or two years and added that the Al Nassr star could also play more than that.

Watch the video of Georgina Rodriguez here –

🚨🎙️| Georgina Rodriguez on Cristiano Ronaldo’s future at Paris Fashion Week yesterday:

“Cristiano one more year, then it’s over. Maybe two, I don’t know.”

(via @ArobaseGiovanny)pic.twitter.com/4dxw2j5DuC

— Pubity Sport (@pubitysport) March 3, 2024

“Cristiano one more year, then it’s over. Maybe two, I don’t know,” said Rodriguez in the little chat she had with the host. The video has gone viral on X and the fans have started sharing it on different platforms. Some of the fans feel that Georgina might be right, while others feel that she could be wrong, given the fitness and longevity of the star player.

Legacy of Cristiano Ronaldo

On the 5th of February, Ronaldo celebrated his 39th birthday. He is currently one of the oldest players in the world. In the past, players at this age would have retired way back. But the fitness and consistency of Ronaldo make him play the sport as long as he wishes. In his career so far, Ronaldo has won many major leagues for Portugal and league teams like Real Madrid, Al Nassr, and Manchester United.

With United, Portugal won some major leagues like the FA Cup and the Champions League. With Real Madrid, the 39-year-old won the leagues like the UCL, Copa Del Rey and La Liga. He won it three consecutive times for Real Madrid. For Portugal, Cristiano had a huge contribution to Portugal. He has the most number of appearances and goals for an international team and won the Euro 2016 with Portugal.

FOOTBALL

Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham slapped with Red Card as he argued with referee

Published

9 months ago

March 3, 2024

admin

Jude Bellingham shown Red Card (Image Credit: Twitter)

England and Real Madrid player Jude Bellingham was slapped with a Red Card during the La Liga game against Valencia. In the game, the home team, Valencia was leading by 2-0 after 30 minutes before Madrid scored in the injury time of the first half. Vinicius Junior opened the scoring for Madrid while Hugo Duro (27′) and Roman Yaremchuk (30′) scored a goal each.

In the 76th minute, Junior scored an equalizer to keep the team in the game. However, in the injury time of the second half, Bellingham was given a red card as he argued with the referee against calling it a full-time before he could score. In reply, the match official decided to slap the England international with a Red Card. The team coach Carlo Ancelotti wasn’t happy with the verdict as the Three Lions player was making a pass at the time.

Jude Bellingham verbally abusing officials and other footballers at the slightest provocation needs to be talked about more. It’s embarrassing he gets applauded by Real Madrid Fans.

Mason Greenwood should’ve allowed La Liga to deal with this simp. pic.twitter.com/ixYSw6YxaC

— Herman Facundo© (@hermanfacundo_7) March 3, 2024

“I think what’s just happened is unprecedented. It’s never happened to me,” Ancelotti told reporters.

“We had possession of the ball and the match should have been finished when Valencia had the ball.

“What bothers us is the red card for Bellingham because he didn’t say anything insulting. He was frustrated of course,” said Ancelotti, adding that Bellingham had used a common English swearword when telling the referee it was a goal.

We are annoyed with Jude Bellingham’s Red Card: Carlo Ancelotti

“We were annoyed with Bellingham’s red card. He didn’t say any insults. He said in English ‘it’s a f—ing goal,’ but he was just saying what we were all thinking … [The referee] allowed play to continue. I think he made a mistake.”

“[Bellingham] was clear in what he said,” Ancelotti added. “He was quite vehement [in his reaction] but that’s normal, after what happened. It wasn’t an insult, not at all.”

FOOTBALL

PL 2023-24: MCFC vs MUFC Dream11 Prediction, Playing XI, Fantasy League Today’s Captain, Vice-Captain, and more for Manchester derby

Published

9 months ago

March 2, 2024

admin

Super Sunday is set to witness the Manchester Derby in the Premier League 2023-24. The match between Manchester City (MCFC) and Manchester United (MUFC) is set to take place in Etihad Stadium, the home ground of Manchester City. The two teams have had a contrasting journey in the league till now. The fortunes of City changed ever since Pep Guardiola took over the club as the manager.

While the home side are placed in the second position in the points table currently, United are in the sixth place in the points table. In their previous encounter, City hammered Luton Town by 6-2 in the FA Cup. United have shown massive improvements in the last few weeks after not having a good start to their campaign. United were involved in a thrilling game where they beat Nottingham Forrest by 1-0 in their last game.

Both teams feature some of the best players in the world. The likes of Julian Alvarez, Erling Haaland, Marcus Rashford, Kevin De Bruyne, Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, and others would be taking part in the match. Manchester City will start the match as the favourites, given their record in the ongoing league so far and the match taking place in their home. United with their improved record can challenge the home side.

MCFC vs MUFC – Match Details

Match – Manchester City (MCFC) vs Manchester United (MUFC), Premier League 2023-24

Venue – Etihad Stadium, Manchester

Date and Time – 3^rd March 2024, 21:00 IST

Live Coverage – Star Sports Network and Disney plus Hot Star

MCFC vs MUFC – Head-to-Head

Both the teams from Manchester have a rich history in the sport. they have been up against each other in 191 instances. In as many games, Manchester United have been historically the better side with 78 wins to their name. City have managed to win 60 wins, as 53 games ended in a draw. In the last five games between the two sides in the Premier League, City have won four of the five games.