Category: Spain

Massimiliano Allegri hopes Juventus avoid Barcelona in Champions League quarter-finals.

Massimiliano Allegri hopes that Juventus avoid facing Barcelona in the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the second year running.

Juve were staring down the barrel of elimination at the hands of Tottenham after Son Heung-min broke the deadlock in the 39th minute to make it 3-2 on aggregate in the second leg at Wembley.

However, the Serie A outfit were a rejuvenated side after the break and the introduction of wing-backs Stephan Lichtsteiner and Kwadwo Asamoah swung the momentum in their favour.

Asked which teams he wants to avoid in the next round, Juve boss Allegri told Viasport Fotball: “The only team that I don’t want are Barcelona. ‘Because, every year, Barcelona, Barcelona, Barcelona. Now stop!”

Juventus had Barca in their group this season, knocked them out in the quarter-finals last term and lost in the final to the Catalan giants in 2015.

Allegri believes Real Madrid and Barcelona remain the favourites to win the Champions League. “People talk about Real Madrid and Barcelona, who are perhaps up there with the favourites,” he added. “But that doesn’t mean that we’re not going to be able to compete.

“Bayern Munich are another team that can do some damage further down the line. ‘For the time being, we’re happy with where we are and happy to compete at this level.”

Also Read: Russia to allow cocaine, cannabis and heroin at World Cup

Griezmann says that his future will be decided before the start of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The future of Antoine Griezmann promises to be one of the lengthy sagas of the summer transfer window, although not if the Frenchman can help it.

He wants his future to be sorted out quickly and to go to the World Cup with it already arranged.

“My future will be decided before the World Cup,” he has insisted in an interview with L’Equipe.

“I want to go to Russia with a clear mind. I think this is what everybody wants.

“I said to my sister [who takes care of his business] that whether I stay [at Atletico Madrid] or not, she has to let me know before it.”

Explaining why he wants to settle this before the summer’s tournament, Griezmann said that he doesn’t want to be asked about transfer rumours at every press conference in Russia.

“It’s not so much a question of knowing where I’ll play, which can be quite a boring thing, but more so the fact that I would otherwise be called and asked what I think about this and that and about what I want,” he said.

He currently has a contract with Atletico Madrid until 2022 but has been linked with a move to Barcelona.

Also Read: Madrid to ditch Hazard and pursue another EPL superstar

Atletico Madrid eyeing Paulo Dybala to replace Antoine Griezmann this summer

Madrid may have to break their transfer record in order to sign Paulo Dybala of Juventus to replace Barcelona bound Antoine Griezmann. It’s being reported that they have to pay twice of of what they paid for Diego Costa to sign the Argentenian. Costa was bought for £57 million.

According to reports in Spain,Atletico Madrid’s Manager Diego Simeone had dinner in the same restaurant as Dybala on Monday in Madrid.Though it’s not confirmed whether they were at the same table or were in same place by coincidence.All the reports agree that they spoke at length. Dybala’s representative and brother was also present there according to Mundo Deportivo.

It’s not a secret that Simeone is a big admirer of his fellow countryman and he believes he can replicate the success he had with Griezmann.

Juventus are unwilling to listen to any offers below €12o million. Griezmann has €1oo million buy-out clause but will only receive €80 million because his former club Real Sociedad will receive €20 million from his sale.

However Griezmann’s estimated €15 million salary has been set aside for his replacement.

Paulo Dybala is currently in Madrid after been omitted from the Argentina national team for the upcoming international friendlies.

Read Also: Atletico Madrid Players Salaries 2018 (Weekly Wages)

Barcelona are monitoring Blind’s situation according to Mundo Deportivo

Barcelona sees Blind as an option to replace Javier Mascherano and he is versatile enough to play full,centre-back or in midfield as they working to cover Mascherano’a absence.They also believe that he could be available for a cheap amount and has the requisite experience to come straight in the team.

This is not the first time Barca had showed interest in him.In 2016,Luis Enrique,former Barca manager also wanted to sign him.Robert Fernandez,current Barca Manager,is also a big admirer of him.

Blind is not in Jose Mourinho’s plan and has fallen out of favour behind Ashley Young and even Luke Shaw and is looking to move away from the club in the summer transfer window.

Former United Manager Louis Van Gaal signed Blind in 2014 for €17.5 million and performed well under him.Since Mourinho was appointed,he has been getting very few chanches. Last year Van Gaal even asked Blind to leave United and join Barcelona as he will be getting more chances there.

Even Serie A team A.S. Roma have shown interest in signing him.

Daley Blind recently signed an one year contract extension which runs until 2019.

Read Also: Top 10 Highest Paid Barcelona Players 2018

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Vasco Da Gama’s Paulinho on Barca’s radar

Brazil always known to produce great talents and the latest one to make headlines is Brazilian club Vasco da Gama’s Paulo Henrique Sampaio Filho more commonly known as Paulinho. He is considered to be the next big thing in Brazil.

Paulinho plays as forward for his club. The 17 year old is one the brightest young talents in the Brazil and is very highly rated there. Having progressed through Vasco Da Gama’s academy, he was promoted to first team last season. He was praised as the revelation of Brazilian league last season ahead of the likes Arthur and Vinicius Junior, two players with moves to Barça and Real Madrid already in place.

He has been in the news for becoming the youngest player to score for Vasco Da Gama, breaking the record set by Barcelona player Philippe Coutinho. He also became the youngest player to represent Vasco Da Gama after Coutinho.

According to Spanish outlet ​Sport, Bracelona are keeping tabs on Paulinho after his record breaking feat. With just €30 million release clause,Barcelona very well could move for him before other European giants come looking for him. With Barcelona already having Coutinho and Paulinho and Arthur set to join this summer, the striker would really fancy a move there.

Paulinho can play on both the flanks and is decisive in the final third. He is also known for his long range goals and has scored 5 goals for the club this season.

Read Also: Arthur to Barcelona all but agreed

Deulofeu could part ways with Barcelona

Gerard Deulofeu came up through the ranks of famous Barcelona’s youth academy and many thought he was the next big thing. But the Spanish never quite settled in the club.

Since his debut in 2011 for the senior team, he has been a part of loan deals for clubs like Everton and Sevilla, before making a permanent move to Everton in 2015. In 2017, Barcelona activated their buy back clause to bring him back only to loan him again to Watford this January.

He is currently sidelined due to injury and was speaking about his future-

“I see returning to Barca as very difficult,” he told Esports COPE. “In the end, I’m the one who should earn [the chance] to play more. I believe in myself more than anyone but I recognise that I have not been regular.

“I want to play and be happy, I do not like to be on the bench, like the majority of players. But I told the coach [Ernesto Valverde] when I left on loan ‘much of the blame is mine because you have given me the opportunities that I wanted’.

“We will have to speak with Barca and with my agent, but I cannot say what will happen because I don’t know myself.

“Since I arrived at Watford I [have been] very happy. They have treated me differently, I have been able to play four matches and I was feeling very well. The injury was a shame, but I hope to return soon and be able to play four or five matches before the end of the season.”

If Deulofeu don’t return to Barcelona, there would be host of clubs ready to sign him as there is no doubt about his talent. He is a very skillful player and can play anywhere in the attacking positions.

Read Also: Man United make an offer for Barcelona star