FC Barcelona Thread

[beavis]

Semedo facing 5 weeks out

FC Barcelona full-back Nelson Semedo has been ruled out for up to 5 weeks with a hamstring injury.

The 24-year-old pulled up when chasing back during the second half of his side's 6-1 La Liga thrashing of Girona at Camp Nou.

Tests have revealed Semedo sustained muscle damage and Barca expect him to be out of action until April.

Semedo is set to miss a busy run of games which includes a league game against second place Atletico Madrid and the second leg of the Champions League last 16 tie with Chelsea.

He is also likely to sit out Portugal's friendly matches with Egypt and Holland next month.

[beavis]

Iniesta confirms Barcelona departure

FC Barcelona and Spain great Andres Iniesta has confirmed he will leave Camp Nou at the end of this season, ending a career-long association with the La Liga giants.

Iniesta signed a "lifetime" contract with Barca last October but speculation has mounted over recent weeks regarding the 33-year-old midfielder's future and a mooted move to the Chinese Super League.

A superb goal in the Blaugrana's 5-0 Copa del Rey Final demolition of Sevilla on Saturday was followed by an emotional ovation as Iniesta was substituted in the closing stages of the match at Wanda Metropolitano.

At a media conference on Friday at the club's training centre, Iniesta made news of his pending departure official.

Iniesta did not reveal who his next club will be, although he is widely expected to seal a move to CSL outfit Chongqing Lifan.

Since making his debut in a Champions League match against Club Brugge as an 18-year-old in October 2002, Iniesta has clocked up 669 appearances across all competitions for Barca, the coolly dispatched effort against FC Sevilla his 57th goal.

The most famous strike of the playmaker's career will indisputably remain his extra-time winner as Spain beat Holland 1-0 in Johannesburg to lift the World Cup in 2010.

Iniesta also inspired Spain's golden generation to glory at EURO 2008 and EURO 2012. He was named Player of the Tournament after a man-of-the-match showing in the later 4-0 Final thrashing of Italy.

A mercurial contemporary of Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernandez, Iniesta's trophy haul for Barcelona is impressively vast.

A ninth La Liga title is likely to be confirmed this weekend - a 35th career trophy for club and country, hot on the heels of a 6th Copa del Rey for the 4-time Champions League winner.

[lucas1245]

[fanswan]

Legenda Barcelonei - Andres Iniesta confirmă ieșirea
După ce sa alăturat academiei Barca, La Masia, în vârstă de 12 ani, Iniesta a înflorit într-unul dintre cei mai buni jucători ai Catalanilor, câștigând patru ligi ale Ligii Campionilor și opt titluri La Liga și ridicând Cupa Mondială cu Spania.


Încercând să-și tacă lacrimile, Iniesta a spus: "Înțeleg că în viitorul apropiat nu voi putea să-mi dau cele mai bune lucruri în toate sensurile fizice și mentale.

În ceea ce a fost ultima sa finală de cupă cu Barca, Iniesta a acoperit o performanță tipic elegantă la Wanda Metropolitano cu un finisaj minunat, lovind portarul trecut David Soria și atingând golful său de pe locul 57, la cea de-a 669-a apariție.

[beavis]

Roberto gets 4-game ban

FC Barcelona full-back Sergi Roberto has been given a 4-game ban following his red card in the 2-2 EL Clasico draw last Sunday.

The Spain international was sent off towards the end of the first half by referee Alejandro Jose Hernandez Hernandez after he appeared to strike Real Madrid full-back Marcelo in the face.

The Spanish Football Federation's Competition Committee has suspended Roberto for 4 games and fined him €3,005.

Barca, meanwhile, have been fined €1,400.

The referee's match report claimed Roberto was sent off for "hitting an opponent with his arm, with the use of excessive force, the ball not being at a distance to be played".

It is reported Barca have already lodged an appeal against the sanction.

If the ban stands, Roberto will miss his side's final 3 La Liga games of the season against Villarreal, Levante and Real Sociedad. He will also sit out the first leg of the Supercopa de Espana against FC Sevilla at the start of next season.

[beavis]

Umtiti agrees contract extension

FC Barcelona have agreed a 5-year contract extension with France international centre-half Samuel Umtiti, the club have announced.

The 24-year-old will sign the deal, which runs until the end of the 2022-2023 season, on Monday at Camp Nou.

Umtiti has been a success since joining from Olympique Lyon for €25 million in 2016, forming a formidable partnership with Gerard Pique at the heart of Barca's defence.

He is part of France's 23-man squad for the World Cup in Russia and is expected to start alongside Real Madrid's Raphael Varane at centre-half.

[beavis]

Barcelona sign Arthur

FC Barcelona have completed the €40 million signing of Brazilian midfielder Arthur from Gremio.

The 21-year-old has signed a 6-year deal with the La Liga champions, who announced the departure of fellow Brazilian Paulinho to Guangzhou Evergrande on Sunday.

Arthur, who has yet to be capped at senior level by Brazil, has a buy-out clause in his contract set at €400 million.

Arthur started his career at his local club Goias before being spotted in 2010 by Gremio, then under the charge of former Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.

He was a key figure in Gremio's Copa do Brasil win in 2016 and also helped the Porto Alegre-based club lift the Copa Libertadores for just the third time in their history last season.

[beavis]

Barca confirm Lenglet

FC Barcelona have completed the signing of FC Sevilla defender Clement Lenglet after triggering his €35 million release clause, it has been confirmed.

Lenglet is the second arrival of the summer at the Camp Nou following a deal for Gremio midfielder Arthur Melo.

The 23-year-old central defender has impressed for Los Rojiblancos in a turbulent season for the club, helping guide them to the Copa del Rey Final and last 8 of the Champions League.

Joaquin Caparros - Sevilla's new Director of Football - had previously confirmed the Catalan giants have made approaches for the central defender but that these have been rejected.

Lenglet was the penultimate arrival at the Andalusian club under sporting director Monchi, signing from Ligue 1 outfit Nancy in January 2017.

[beavis]

Malcom joins Barcelona

FC Barcelona have officially beaten AS Roma to the signing of attacker Malcom from Girondins Bordeaux.

A statement on Barca's official website confirms the club have agreed a deal worth €41 million plus €1 million for Malcom.

Furthermore, he will arrive in Catalonia on Tuesday evening, undergo his medical the following morning and then put pen-to-paper on a 5-year contract.

It represents a stunning turnaround, given Roma had reached an agreement to sign the 21-year-old and were expecting him in the Italian capital on Monday.

However, it soon sufficed that Bordeaux had denied him permission to board a flight to Rome as Barca came in with an 11th-hour bid, which surpassed the Giallorossi's €40 million.

Malcom, who primarily plays as a left-footed right winger, scored 20 goals in 84 appearances for Les Girondins and has represented Brazil at U20 and U21 levels.

[beavis]

Vidal to join Barcelona

FC Barcelona have reached an agreement with Bayern Munchen to sign midfielder Arturo Vidal on a 3-year deal, subject to a medical.

The Chile international was widely reported to be nearing a move to Italian side Inter Milano but has instead opted to play in La Liga for Spanish champions FC Barcelona.

The 31-year-old will fill the void of the departing Brazilian box-to-box midfielder Paulinho who left Camp Nou to rejoin Guangzhou Evergrande on loan in July.

Vidal joined Bayern from Juventus in 2015 for a fee in the region of £32 million, signed by former Barca coach Pep Guardiola.

During his time in Bavaria, Vidal won 3 consecutive Bundesliga titles and the DFB Pokal in his opening season.

While playing for Juventus he won 4 consecutive Serie A titles, winning the Coppa Italia in his final season and finished as runner-up in the Champions League in 2015 - losing to Barcelona.

[beavis]

Barca sign Wague

FC Barcelona have completed the signing of Eupen full-back and Senegal international Moussa Wague, it has been confirmed.

The 19-year-old starred for his nation in this summer's World Cup in Russia, finding the net in a 2-2 group stage with Japan and becoming the youngest African goalscorer in finals' history.

The move is in the region of €5 million while his long-term deal at the Catalan giants will include a €100 million release clause.

Reports state that Barca want to push Sergi Roberto into a central midfielder role and see Wague as having the potential to challenge Nelson Semedo for a first-team spot at right-back.

The club's general manager Pep Segura and sporting director Eric Abidal worked on the deal which has now brought the Senegalese defender to the Camp Nou.

Wague joined Eupen last season from Qatar's Aspire Academy and has made a total of 52 professional appearances for club and country.

The report states the plan would be initially to put the defender into the Barca B team before challenging for a first-team slot.

[beavis]

Barca confirm Cillessen & Samper injuries

FC Barcelona have confirmed goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen and midfielder Sergi Samper will both face indefinite injury lay-offs.

23-year-old Samper has not made an appearance for the club in over 2 years and has spent spells on loan at Granada and Las Palmas, while he has now suffered a sprain to the internal lateral ligament of his left ankle.

Dutch international Cillessen, a backup to the club's first choice goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, has sustained an injury to his left rib.

Cillessen, 29-year-old, joined Barca from Ajax in 2016 but has struggled to dislodge Ter Stegen from the number 1 spot and has made just 2 La Liga appearances across 2 seasons.

[beavis]

MARŢI 18 SEPTEMBRIE
FC Barcelona - PSV Eindhoven

MIERCURI 3 OCTOMBRIE
Tottenham Hotspur - FC Barcelona

MIERCURI 24 OCTOMBRIE
FC Barcelona - Internazionale Milano

MARŢI 6 NOIEMBRIE
Internazionale Milano - FC Barcelona

MIERCURI 28 NOIEMBRIE
PSV Eindhoven - FC Barcelona

MARŢI 11 DECEMBRIE
FC Barcelona - Tottenham Hotspur

[beavis]

Messi vs PSV (1-0)
https://streamable.com/2rv1b

Dembele vs PSV (2-0)
https://streamable.com/b0pfj

Messi vs PSV (3-0)
https://streamable.com/e7cyb

Messi vs PSV (4-0)
https://streamable.com/e573q

[beavis]

Busquets pens new Barcelona contract

Sergio Busquets has signed new contract with FC Barcelona through to 2023, with his fresh terms including a €500 million release clause.

The 30-year-old midfielder is a product of the famed La Masia academy system in Catalunya and has spent his entire career to date at Camp Nou.

He has now edged a step closer to hanging up his boots as a one-club man, with Barca tying his services down for the foreseeable future.

Busquets' new deal will also allow him to sail past the 500 appearances for the club, with just 10 more outings required to hit that mark.

He will also be hoping to add to his enviable haul of major honours in the years to come.

To date, a modern day icon has won 7 La Liga titles, 6 Copas del Rey, 3 Champions League crowns, 3 FIFA Club World Cups, 3 UEFA Super Cups and 6 Spanish Super Cups.

Busquets also helped Spain to World Cup glory in 2010 and a second European Championship triumph in 2012.

[beavis]

Vermaelen out for up to 6 weeks

FC Barcelona defender Thomas Vermaelen is out for up to 6 weeks with a right hamstring injury.

Vermaelen was injured during Belgium's 2-1 Nations League win over Switzerland on Friday.

With Samuel Umtiti also out with a knee injury, the setback leaves Barcelona with just 2 fit central defenders ahead of a key period for the La Liga club.

Gerard Pique and Clement Lenglet are their only recognised centre-backs available as Ernesto Valverde's side prepare to host league leaders FC Sevilla on Saturday.

Barca then welcome Inter Milano to the Camp Nou in the Champions League next Wednesday, before taking on Real Madrid at home on 28 October in the first EL Clasico of the season.

[beavis]

Messi to miss EL Clasico

Lionel Messi fractured his right arm in FC Barcelona's 4-2 win over FC Sevilla and will be out for approximately 3 weeks, meaning he will miss next Sunday's EL Clasico.

The Argentine was forced off the field after just 26 minutes at the Camp Nou on Saturday and will miss the visit of Real Madrid.

Messi landed awkwardly on his right arm after tussling for the ball with Sevilla's Franco Vazquez, fracturing the radial bone in his forearm, Barcelona have confirmed.

Ousmane Dembele was brought on to replace Messi, who had scored in the first half of Barcelona's 4-2 win after providing the assist for Philippe Coutinho's opener.

The result sent Barcelona top of La Liga, but they will have to manage without their star player for at least 3 weeks.

As well as Real Madrid, Messi is also set to miss both of Barcelona's Champions League meetings with Inter Milano, with both teams in the same group as Tottenham Hotspur.

[beavis]

Rakitic suffers hamstring injury

FC Barcelona could be without Ivan Rakitic for up to 3 weeks after the midfielder suffered a hamstring injury.

A statement on Barca's official website confirmed Rakitic had pulled the semimembranosus muscle in his right leg during Croatia's 3-2 Nations League win against Spain on Thursday.

Consequently, Mundo Deportivo expects the 30-year-old - who has already left his country's training camp - to be out for 2-3 weeks.

That would rule Rakitic rule out of the Blaugrana's upcoming games against PSV and Villarreal, while he was already banned for the trip to Atletico Madrid.

It also represents a boost for Spain, who can only qualify for the Nations League final 4 if Croatia draw with England on Sunday.

With that in mind, he should be back for the Catalan derby against Espanyol on 8 December.

[beavis]

Rafinha out long-term, Roberto could miss a month

FC Barcelona midfielder Rafinha faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after rupturing a knee ligament in the 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid.

Rafinha was injured not long after coming on as a second half substitute at Wanda Metropolitano but managed to get through to the final whistle as Barcelona scored late to secure a 1-1 draw.

However, a scan has shown the damage to his anterior cruciate ligament and Barcelona have confirmed he will need surgery.

A statement read: "Rafinha has a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of the left knee. In the next few days we will proceed with surgical treatment".

Barcelona will also be without the player he replaced - Sergi Roberto - for up to a month due to a hamstring injury.

Roberto will miss at least a couple of La Liga fixtures as well as Champions League dates with PSV Eindhoven and Tottenham Hotspur.

Barcelona's medical update continued: "Sergi Roberto will be out for between 3 to 4 weeks with a rupture of the hamstring in his left leg".

[beavis]

Suarez ruled out for 2 weeks

FC Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has been ruled out for 2 weeks with a knee injury as Ernesto Valverde's squad continues to be pushed to its limits.

Suarez will require stem cell treatment, meaning he will miss Wednesday's clash with PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League as well as La Liga matches against Villarreal and local rivals Espanyol.

He could be fit to face Tottenham on 11 December, but his absence is just the latest blow for Valverde amid a run of disappointing results.

The Blaugrana have also revealed that reserve goalkeeper Jesper Cillessen is set to be out for up to 3 weeks with a muscle tear in his right leg while midfielder Arthur Melo will miss the trip to Eindhoven with an adductor strain.

There was some encouraging news for Valverde on Monday, though, after Philippe Coutinho and Ivan Rakitic were both named in the squad to face PSV.

Brazil international Coutinho sustained a hamstring injury during Barca's last European outing on 6 November while Rakitic picked up a hamstring injury while playing for Croatia against Spain earlier this month.

But it is Suarez's injury which is set to keep Valverde up at night, with Munir El Haddadi the only recognised striker available to the former Athletic Bilbao coach.