Messi's return to Barca not realistic, says club president Laporta
The Man United star was offered the chance to lead a rebuilt Barcelona Dream Team.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has taken a swipe at arch-rivals Real Madrid for their multi-million euro spending spree that has dominated the headlines and the transfer market ahead of the treble-winners.
Barcelona's electric 18-year-old winger Lamine Yamal has been handed the famous number 10 shirt previously worn by club icon Lionel Messi.
Rashford, one of Europe's top talents before falling out of favour at United and spending the latter part of last season on loan at Aston Villa, joins a stellar attacking cast featuring Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres.
Xavi played for Barcelona for 17 years, making 767 appearances and winning 25 trophies, including four Champions League titles and eight LaLiga crowns.
Spanish prosecutors last month filed a complaint against Barcelona over payments of 7.3 million euros ($7.95 million) from 2001 to 2018 to firms owned by Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira.
Barcelona have sacked manager Xavi Hernandez, the La Liga club said on Friday, four weeks after confirming he would honour the last year of his contract and lead them through next season.
'But I think it is time. I'm not driven by financial matters, but by my heart. I think it's the best thing for the club. I don't want to be a problem for the club in my heart.'
Barcelona sacked coach Ronald Koeman after Wednesday's 1-0 LaLiga defeat at Rayo Vallecano, the Catalan club said on Wednesday.
Xavi mentioned again on Saturday that the club faced problems. Similar comments had reportedly annoyed Laporta earlier in the season.
Barcelona came from an early goal down to beat Real Madrid 5-2 in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday
The Ballon d'Or, which is awarded annually since 1956, is one of the most prestigious individual honours in football.
Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o is considering a "stratospheric offer" that could make him the best paid player in the world, according to the Spanish club's president Joan Laporta.
'If there is a possibility, I would like to contribute again because it's the club that I love and I would love for it to continue doing well, to continue growing and to continue being one of the best in the world.'
Barcelona will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) if FIFA tell them to release Argentine forward Lionel Messi for the Olympic Games, club president Joan Laporta said on Monday. Laporta added that the club wants to "find a consensus solution that will suit both Barcelona and the AFA (Argentine Football Association)."
The Spanish champions have decided to stick with tradition and not have a sponsors logo on their team shirts.
Coach Frank Rijkaard would also continue at the club next season.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has received a number of death threats in recent weeks and has reported them to the police, he said on Saturday.
The Barca chief also said that the financial situation that he had inherited from former club president Josep Maria Bartomeu was "far, far worse" than anticipated.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has recognised that former World Player of the Year Ronaldinho needs to leave the club if he is to revive his career. Laporta admitted that the club might find it difficult to sell the 28-year-old Brazilian, who suffered a series of injury and fitness problems this season.
A Spanish judge upheld a complaint from three club members that president Joan Laporta had already served four years.
English Premier League club Chelsea has been caught up in a bitter row over an alleged seven million bribery scandal for the transfer of ace Brazilian striker Ronaldinho.
Barcelona have lost only once in the league since Xavi took charge in November
Barcelona and Inter Milan reached an agreement in principle to swap Inter striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic for Barca forward Samuel Eto'o plus cash, the Primera Liga and European champions said on Friday.
Manchester City are leading the race to sign Brazil forward Ronaldinho from Barcelona, the Spanish Primera Liga club's president Joan Laporta said on Monday. Spanish media have reported an offer of 32 million euros ($50.27 million), plus variables, is on the table from the English Premier League club.
Spanish media reports said Ronaldinho was due to arrive in Spain later on Saturday to close the deal.
Former club captain Pep Guardiola will replace Frank Rijkaard as Barcelona coach at the end of the season, Spanish media reported on Tuesday.
Former club captain Pep Guardiola will replace Frank Rijkaard as Barcelona coach at the end of the season, Spanish media reported.
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has signed a two-year contract extension with the European champions until 2016, the club said on Friday.
Joan Laporta has said he will seek to bring former manager Pep Guardiola back to Barcelona if his bid to return as president of the La Liga club in 2021 is successful, Spanish media reported.
Frank Rijkaard will leave Barcelona at the end of the season and former captain Pep Guardiola will take over as coach of the team, club president Joan Laporta announced on Thursday. Former Netherlands international Rijkaard took charge of Barcelona in 2003 and led them to back-to-back league titles and victory over Arsenal in the Champions League final in Paris in 2006.
Barcelona have won all six competitions they have contested since Pep Guardiola took charge 18 months ago but the 38-year-old coach has yet to reveal whether he will extend his contract beyond this season.
Old rivals Real Madrid will play Bayern Munich for the 17th time in European competition in the Champions League first knockout round.
The Catalan club is also close to reaching a deal to sign Sporting Lisbon's highly rated young winger Ricardo Quaresma.
"The price of Ronaldinho is a little high," Moratti told reporters on Tuesday. "We are following the affair but I don't think we are the most interested. Others have officially said they are. There is no derby (to sign him)."
He was unveiled at the Nou Camp after passing a medical and putting pen to paper on a four-year deal with the Primera Liga side.
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