Samuel Marsden – Football Scout

Barcelona set to sign Toulouse centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo – sources

Shaka Hislop weighs up the latest transfer rumours involving Eden Hazard, Aaron Ramsey, Christian Eriksen, Miguel Almiron and more.
Barcelona are close to finalising a deal to sign Toulouse’s highly rated centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo, sources have told ESPN FC.
Todibo, 19, has not played for Toulouse since November, when negotiations over a new contract broke down. His terms expire in the summer and since the beginning of January he has been free to hold talks with other clubs.
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Manchester City and Juventus had also been linked with the French defender, but Barca sporting director Eric Abidal, a former France international,…

Barcelona close to signing Jeison Murillo from Valencia on loan – sources

Lionel Messi and Barcelona made quick work of Levante, as the league leaders further solidified their position atop the table with another three points.

ESPN FC’s Ale Moreno breaks down the latest transfers surrounding Zinedine Zidane, Alvaro Morata and many more in Transfer Rater.

Through the Barca Foundation, FC Barcelona are changing the rules to make sure no child gets left offside.
Barcelona are close to finalising a deal to sign Valencia centre-back Jeison Murillo on loan until the end of the season, sources have told ESPN FC.
Talks are ongoing between the two clubs to close the operation ahead of the January transfer window, with Valencia pushing for a fee in the region of €2 million for the six-month loan.
It is unlikely that the deal will include an option for the move to be made permanent — although things may change if Colombia international Murillo does well…

Ousmane Dembele, Gerard Pique both on song again as Barcelona earn elusive clean sheet

Gerard Pique scored for the second straight game in Barcelona’s win over Villarreal.
Gerard Pique and Carles Alena were on target as Barcelona beat Villarreal 2-0 to get back to winning ways in La Liga at Camp Nou on Sunday.
Barca took the lead in the first half when Pique headed home Ousmane Dembele’s cross and youngster Alena sealed the three points with a smart finish after the break after coming on as a substitute.

Positives
Considering it was quite an uneventful occasion for large parts of the match, there were several positives for Barca. La Masia graduate Alena’s first…

Ousmane Dembele goes from distraction to hero with late equaliser at Atletico Madrid

After headlining the papers all week, Ousmane Dembele delivered for Barcelona. Stewart Robson examines how he influenced their draw at Atletico.

Ousmane Dembele broke the hearts of the fans at Wanda Metropolitano with a 90th minute goal, to save a point for Barcelona on the road.
Ousmane Dembele came off the bench to snatch a point for Barcelona as the La Liga leaders drew 1-1 with Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday.
Atletico took the lead in the 77th minute when Diego Costa headed home at the far post with the game’s first shot on target.
Barca managed to avoid suffering back-to-back league defeats, though, when substitute Dembele scored in the final minute of the match after good work from Lionel Messi.

Positives
This was a drab game which neither…

Ousmane Dembele has help at Barcelona amid struggles – Gerard Pique

Lionel Messi scored twice in his return from injury, but Real Betis netted four goals of their own to win 4-3, spoiling the Blaugrana star’s return.

Shaka Hislop unveils his latest club power rankings, then has to answer to the rest of the baffled FC crew.
Barcelona’s Gerard Pique has defended Ousmane Dembele at the end of another difficult week for the France forward, saying all players make mistakes when they are young. 
Sources have told ESPN FC that the club are concerned over elements of Dembele’s lifestyle and he was left out of the squad for Sunday’s 4-3 defeat to Real Betis after missing training earlier in the week.
Barca said Dembele missed Thursday’s session with an illness but local media reports said they had been unable to locate…

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo missing Clasico doesn’t dampen game’s appeal – Barcelona’s Ernesto Valverde

Marc-Andre ter Stegen believes it’s time for someone in his team to step up in the absence of Lionel Messi, as Barcelona play Real Madrid in the first El Clasico of the season.

ESPN FC’s Sid Lowe explains how Barcelona reinforced their XI against Inter without Lionel Messi and discusses how they will approach Real Madrid.

Sid Lowe says it seems like Real Madrid have decided to move on from Julen Lopetegui, but that winning El Clasico could make sacking him tricky.

Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann looks ahead to Sunday’s El Clásico and talks about his side’s ambitions for the season.

La Liga president Javier Tebas said there is no doubt Girona’s match against Barcelona will be played in Miami. Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde has said the absence of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in a Clasico for the first time in 11 years takes none of the gloss away from Sunday’s match.
Ronaldo left Madrid in the summer to join Juventus, and Messi fractured a bone in his arm last weekend against Sevilla, ruling him out for three weeks.
Messi and Ronaldo’s rivalry has come to define the fixture so much over the last decade that it was suggested to Valverde this weekend’s meeting between the two sides…

Barcelona have no plans to re-sign Neymar – club vice president

Lionel Messi visits the SJD Pediatric Cancer Center and greets the children at a charity event in Barcelona.

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‘Take The Ball, Pass The Ball’ will feature former and current Barcelona players looking back on Pep Guardiola’s four years and 14 trophies with the club.

ESPN FC’s La Liga correspondent Sid Lowe digs deeper into what’s plaguing Real Madrid and Barcelona during their respective winless streaks.

Lionel Messi was able to draw level before the half, but a struggling Barcelona now has three draws in four La Liga matches.
Barcelona have no plans to re-sign Neymar, despite reports this week that they are keen to bring the Brazil international back to Camp Nou. 
He has been regularly linked with Real Madrid — who denied making a move for him in the summer — since leaving Barca for Paris Saint-Germain for €222 million in 2017, but Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo said on Wednesday that he has told Barca he wants them to take him back.
However, Barca vice president Jordi Cardoner said it is not an issue…

Barcelona facing defensive crisis ahead of El Clasico after Thomas Vermaelen injury

The ESPN FC panel answer your tweets on Ousmane Dembele’s playing time for Barcelona, Wayne Rooney’s MVP credentials and much more.

The ESPN FC crew answer your tweets on Kylian Mbappe’s links to Real Madrid, Philippe Countinho’s woes at the Camp Nou and much more.

Lionel Messi was able to draw level before the half, but a struggling Barcelona now has three draws in four La Liga matches.
Barcelona are facing a defensive crisis ahead of next week’s games against Sevilla, Inter Milan and Real Madrid after Thomas Vermaelen was ruled out for six weeks.
Vermaelen injured his hamstring while on international duty with Belgium and returned to Barcelona for tests on the problem over the weekend.
The club confirmed on Monday that he will be sidelined for the next month-and-a-half, which could see him miss up to eight games.
Ernesto Valverde is already without Samuel Umtiti, with Barca refusing…

Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba key encouraging Barcelona performance vs. Tottenham

ESPN FC’s Ale Moreno reiterates that Lionel Messi is the best player in the world, and it showed in Barcelona’s dominating performance over Tottenham
Lionel Messi scored twice as Barcelona ended a three-game winless run to beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-2 in the Champions League.

Barca took the lead inside the first two minutes when Philippe Coutinho drove home after Messi had released Jordi Alba.

Ivan Rakitic thumped home the La Liga side’s second before the break with a volley but Harry Kane pulled one back for the home side in the second half. Messi quickly restored Barca’s two-goal lead before Erik Lamela’s deflected effort hauled Spurs back…

Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets to sign new contract in coming weeks – sources

ESPN FC’s Paul Mariner gives his plaudits to PSV for their efforts, but says Lionel Messi’s class shone through once again in Barcelona’s UCL opener.

Barcelona’s Ernesto Valverde insists they are focused on winning the Champions League whilst Philippe Coutinho admits he is anxious to play against PSV.
Sergio Busquets is expected to sign an improved contract at Barcelona with an announcement expected in the coming weeks, sources have told ESPN FC.
Busquets’ deal, signed just two years ago, runs until 2021 and includes a clause which would see it automatically renew until 2023 based on the number of games he plays in the coming years.
However, the club have decided to fast-track the midfielder’s extension to bring him in line with some of the club’s other top earners.
Mundo Deportivo report that…

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