La Liga
Barca Losing Hope on Neymar
Despite scoring three incredible goals in two recent matches for FC Barcelona who are in the US on pre-season tour, the silence of Neymar concerning his future is increasingly become a great concern to the management of the Catalan club.
Sports Village Square recalls that Neymar has been at the centre of the biggest transfer controversy since 2006 when both Manchester United and Chelsea were at war over the signing of Nigeria’s Mikel Obi.
French Ligue 1 side, Paris Saint-Germain has offered to pay the staggering $254.7 million release clause in astounding $254.7 million release clause in Neymar’s contract with FC Barcelona.
His silence on the matter has become a grave concern to the management of Barcelona who feared that the player could force an exit to Paris Saint-Germain this summer.
According to the UK Telegraph, quoting Daily Sport, a Barcelona based newspaper, sources inside FC Barcelona are growing increasingly worried that Neymar’s lack of commitment to the club – both publicly and privately – is a major sign that he’s preparing to make the switch to the Paris.
The winning goal he scored against Manchester United on Wednesday in the United States may just be his last for the club as sources in Paris Saint-Germain are maintaining that it is just a couple of days for Neymar to complete the switch.
The Catalan Daily Sport claims that the Brazilian’s teammates are growing ever more pessimistic about his continued status as a Barcelona player, with their sources admitting: “Neymar is talking to everyone but is not given any sign about what his final decision might be.”
Meanwhile, French newspaper, L’Equipe reported that PSG are growing impatient with the saga, telling Neymar that they want to be given a final decision on his future by next week as they prepare to fight to regain their Ligue 1 title from Monaco – while AS carry French reports claiming that a five-year deal has already been agreed between player and club.
The Catalan Daily Sport, also revealed that Barcelona were aware of PSG’s move for Neymar weeks before talk of the transfer went public, but chose not to intervene and talk to the 25-year-old until he returned to the club for pre-season training.
That delay gave the French side time to worm their way into his plans, with talks at an ‘advanced stage’ by the time anybody from the Catalan club had the chance to speak to the man who they still consider the future of their club.
Raphinha knew there was no reason to panic as Barcelona struggled to break down Espanyol on Thursday and said it was only a matter of time before the “golden feet” of Lamine Yamal steered them to a title-winning victory with a glorious goal.
Yamal, 17, took the ball on the right touchline and made a superb lateral run across the edge of the box before unleashing a curling strike between two defenders and into the top corner to break the deadlock early in the second half.
The stunning strike set Barca on course for a 2-0 win that secured the LaLiga title, with Real Madrid seven points back with only two games left to play.
“We didn’t have many clear chances but we have a kid in there who sometimes pulls something out of the golden feet he has and he gave us peace of mind to stay in the game more calmly,” Raphinha said.
“In January some people were saying we would fight to be third. We have confidence in ourselves. That’s the key. We trust in the work and in what we know we can do.”
Raphinha has scored 18 league goals this season, including a brace in Saturday’s crucial 4-3 win over Real Madrid, and was quick to credit the trust shown in him by coach Hansi Flick.
The Brazilian tripled his goal tally from last season and also has the third-highest number of assists in the competition with nine, three less than leader Yamal.
“The most important thing was the confidence of the coach. Knowing at the start of the season that he was counting on me, a person who controls the team … it changes you in the end,” he said.
-Reuters
Former Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso is set to become the next Real Madrid manager on a three-year deal when he leaves Bayer Leverkusen after this season, Spanish media reported on Monday.
Alonso, 43, is expected to replace current Real boss Carlo Ancelotti, who is being lined up for the vacant Brazil job ahead of the 2026 World Cup, soccer sources told Reuters.
Despite the Italian having a year remaining on his contract, Real’s underwhelming season and his desire to coach Brazil have led to a mutual agreement to part ways, the sources added.
Alonso, who said earlier this month that he was leaving Leverkusen after guiding them to the double last term, will join Real before the inaugural Club World Cup in the United States from June 14 to July 14, multiple media reports said.
Alonso, who also played for Liverpool and Bayern Munich, last season steered Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title, ending the Bavarians’ 11-year domination, and they also won the German Cup and German Super Cup.
Reports of Ancelotti’s likely departure come as no surprise after Real’s 4-3 defeat at Barcelona in a thrilling ‘El Clasico’ on Sunday left his side on the brink of a trophyless season.
The 65-year-old Italian, who returned for a second stint at Real in June 2021, led the Spanish giants to two Champions League and LaLiga doubles, the latest of which came last season.
He is the most successful manager in the club’s history with a total of 15 trophies and the first coach to claim titles in Europe’s top five leagues.
However, this season Real were knocked out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals by Arsenal and allowed Barca to fight back and win 3-2 in the Copa del Rey final.
Second-placed Real are seven points adrift of Barcelona, who could secure the league title on Wednesday without kicking a ball if Real fail to win at home to Mallorca.
Regardless of Real’s result, a Barca victory in the city derby away to Espanyol on Thursday would clinch the title.
An official announcement regarding a managerial change is expected before Real’s last game of the season at home to Real Sociedad on May 25.
-Reuters
Schmuelgen/File Photo
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It was mission accomplished, said Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti after his side fought back from two-goals behind to snatch a rip-roaring 4-4 draw on Tuesday for a 5-4 aggregate win that put them through to the Copa del Rey final.
Ancelotti brushed off questions about a sub-par performance by his side and praised his players’ effort in what he considered a highly entertaining encounter.
“We have achieved our goal today which was to reach the final and there is not much time to think about it,” Ancelotti told a press conference.
“It was an entertaining game with some mistakes and a lot of good things. It was fun and we are in the final.
“I never saw ourselves out of it because anything can happen at the Bernabeu. When we have to come from behind, we never give up. We never give up, especially at home, with the fans by our side.”
Ancelotti said David Alaba was not to blame after he deflected two balls into his own goal, calling it “bad luck” by the Austrian defender, but urged his defence to play with better focus moving forward.
“It’s not good to concede four goals in a game,” Ancelotti said.
“Right now we are a team that has a lot of effectiveness up-front, but little balance.
“However, we can’t ignore what we did in attack, scoring four goals against Real is not that easy. I think we are doing quite well.”
Real Madrid, who have won the Spanish Cup only once in over a decade, will play either Barcelona or Atletico Madrid in a mouth-watering final in Seville next month.
Atletico fought back to hold Barca to a thrilling 4-4 draw ahead of Wednesday’s second-leg in Madrid.
-Reuters
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