BARCELONA LEGEND XAVI HERNÁNDEZ APPOINTED NEW MANAGER OF NETHERLANDS NATIONAL TEAM 🇳🇱

A big new job for the former Barça boss

The rumors were true: Barcelona legend and former manager Xavi Hernández has been appointed the new head coach of the Netherlands national team, the KNVB (Dutch Federation) announced on Wednesday.

Xavi has signed a four-year contract through the 2030 World Cup, and takes on his first managerial role since leaving Barça in 2024.

Xavi replaces another Barça legend and former player in Ronald Koeman, who left the job after this summer’s World Cup. Xavi also took over for Koeman at Barça in 2021, and Oranje fans will hope Xavi’s arrival at the national team will have the same initial impact as his arrival did for Barça five years ago.

The new boss will face a huge, high-profile challenge on his debut as the Dutch will face Jürgen Klopp’s Germany on September 24 in Amsterdam in the first game of the new UEFA Nations League campaign.

Good luck with the Oranje, Xavi!

- Renato Gonçalves

OFFICIAL: BARCELONA SIGN JOAO CANCELO ON LOAN; SHIRT NUMBER CONFIRMED

 

Abdullah Ahmed/Getty Images

FC Barcelona have officially confirmed the return of Joao Cancelo, with the Portuguese defender joining the club on loan from Al Hilal until the end of the current season. 

The move marks a familiar reunion, bringing back a player who already knows the environment, the demands, and the expectations of playing at the Spotify Camp Nou.

After weeks of speculation surrounding Barcelona’s search for defensive reinforcement, the club moved to secure Cancelo’s services once again. 

A sweet homecoming 

In an official announcement released by the club, Barcelona confirmed the deal and welcomed the defender back to Catalonia.

“Cancelo is once again a Barça player. FC Barcelona and Al Hilal Saudi FC have reached an agreement for the loan of the Portuguese full-back until the end of the season,” read a statement from the club.

The signing was formalised on Tuesday at the club’s offices, with several key figures present to mark the occasion. 

Hay lugares que nunca se olvidan.

Bienvenido de nuevo al Barça, João 💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/m16iA067Tc

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) January 13, 2026

President Joan Laporta attended the ceremony alongside first vice-president Rafael Yuste, board member Joan Soler, and Director of the Football Area, Deco. 

Notably, this is not Cancelo’s first spell at Barcelona, as the full-back previously wore the Blaugrana shirt during the 2023/24 season, when he arrived on loan from Manchester City. 

Back then, Cancelo featured in 42 matches across all competitions, becoming a regular presence in the starting XI and offering consistency at both right-back and left-back.

Lastly, Barcelona have confirmed that Cancelo will once again wear the number ‘2’ shirt. 

The number became available after Pau Cubarsi switched to the number ‘5’, which was vacated by Inigo Martinez during the summer. 

- Swapnil Bhopatkar

VIVA FC BARCELONA FOR WINNING THE SULERCOPA DE ESPAÑA 🔥

FC BARCELONA ANNOUNCE SQUAD FOR LA LIGA MATCH AGAINST MALLORCA

Getty Images

The next Barcelona match is upon us! The Blaugrana travel to Palma de Mallorca for a game against Mallorca at Son Moix to begin their defense of the La Liga title, and Hansi Flick has called up the following 23 players for Saturday’s clash:

Goalkeepers: Iñaki Peña, Joan Garcia, Diego Kochen

Defenders: Alejandro Balde, Ronald Araujo, Pau Cubarsí, Andreas Christensen, Jules Kounde, Eric García, Jofre Torrents

Midfielders: Gavi, Pedri, Fermín López, Marc Casadó, Dani Olmo, Frenkie de Jong, Dro Fernández, Guille Fernández, Toni Fernández

Forwards: Ferran Torres, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Marcus Rashford

The good news for this one is that Barça achieved their two biggest goals ahead of the season opener, registering Joan Garcia and Marcus Rashford in time for the trip to Son Moix. Wojciech Szczesny, Gerard Martín and Roony Bardghji have not been registered yet, however, and are forced to sit this one out. Marc-André ter Stegen (back), Robert Lewandowski (hamstring) and Marc Bernal (knee) are out due to injury, while Oriol Romeu and Héctor Fort are no longer in the coach’s plans and are also left out.

Predicted starting XI (4-2-3-1):

Garcia; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsí, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Fermín, Raphinha; Ferran

The match kicks off at 7.30pm CET (Barcelona), 6.30pm BST/WAT (UK & Nigeria), 1.30pm ET, 10.30am PT (USA), 11pm IST (India), and you’re welcome to join us to follow and comment all the action.

VISCA EL BARÇA!

- Renato Gonçalves

LIONEL MESSI REVEALS HIS FAVOURITE CAREER GOAL AND IT IS PURE BARCELONA PLAY

Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images

Lionel Messi has scored over 800 goals in a career packed with brilliance, magic, and jaw-dropping moments, but the Barcelona legend has now revealed which one stands out above the rest, and it might surprise some fans. 

In a recent interview, the Inter Miami forward admitted that his favourite goal ever is not one of his signature solo runs or curling finishes, but a header. Yes, a header, and one that sealed a historic night for Barça.

“I had many goals that are perhaps even more beautiful and of a lot of value, because of the importance as well, but the header in the Champions League final against Manchester United was always my favourite,” Messi explained as quoted by SPORT.

Relive the header

That goal came on May 27, 2009, in Rome, during the UEFA Champions League final. It was a rare sight for a player known more for weaving through defenders than leaping above them. 

Lionel Messi scored a rare headed goal against Manchester United. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Yet, in the 70th minute, Messi latched onto a stunning cross from Xavi Hernández and launched himself into the air. Despite being just 1.70m tall, he outjumped defenders and sent a looping header over the towering Edwin van der Sar. 

It was Messi’s only headed goal in a Champions League final, and what a time to do it. The strike sealed a 2-0 victory over Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United and capped off a legendary season for Barcelona under Pep Guardiola. 

That 2008–09 campaign saw Barça win the treble, La Liga, Copa del Rey, and the Champions League, making them the first Spanish club to ever achieve that feat.

For all the thunderous free-kicks, magical dribbles, and impossible angles Messi has conquered, his favourite goal remains a reminder of what Barcelona stood for at their peak: precision, unity, and brilliance. 

And at the heart of it, a little Argentine who rose above it all, bootless and fearless.

- Swapnil Bhopatkar

LAMINE YAMAL AMAZING STATS BY AGE 17 COMPARED TO MESSI & RONALDO

 

LAMINE YAMAL : 'IMPOSSIBLE TO LEAVE' BARCELONA, I LOVE THIS CLUB

Lamine Yamal has said it would be "impossible" for him to leave Barcelona and that he never hears about offers from other clubs.

Barça president Joan Laporta previously claimed the club turned down a bid of €250 million (£260m) for the 17-year-old last summer, with club official Enric Masip later suggesting the offer came from Paris Saint-Germain.

"I don't hear about it," Yamal told Mundo Deportivo when asked if PSG's offer or interest from any other club had been relayed to him.

"If someone in my camp does, they wouldn't have told me, either. Firstly, and above all, because I have a contract and then because I think it's impossible that I would go to another club."

Yamal's current terms expire in 2026, but ESPN have previously revealed there is a verbal agreement to extend his deal until 2030 when he turns 18.

"I don't think anyone doubts how much I love this club," he added of his contract situation. "I have said as much since I made my debut and everything will be resolved in the end.

"If both parties want something to happen, it will happen. In July [when he turns 18 and can sign a longer-term deal], when the next season starts, everything will be resolved and everyone will see.

"But right now I am focused on LaLiga, the Champions League and the Copa del Rey."

Lamine Yamal has said he is not aware of any offers to prize him away from Barcelona. Getty

In LaLiga, Yamal's five goals and league-high 11 assists have helped Barça into first place with 14 games to be played.

"Being favourites or not doesn't give you anything," he added of the title race with just one point separating Barça, Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid at the top of the table.

"We have to think that we're the best team and the side that play the best football, and I think we are. We play the best football and we want to win LaLiga."

As the battle to win the league has intensified, refereeing in Spain has been under increased scrutiny, with Madrid this month complaining about decisions and even claiming match officials are "adulterating" the competition.

Yamal said he has empathy for the job referees have to do and that none of the teams in the title race -- Barça, Madrid or Atlético -- can complain.

"Recently everything is being put in doubt," he said. "A referee's job is really difficult. If you whistle one way, the other team will complain. And if neither complains, another team that's not playing does.

"I don't think we can complain, Madrid, Barça and Atlético. Referees try to do the best possible. Games between teams like Alavés and Leganés aren't spoken about as much and maybe there are more controversial moments. It's a hard job and someone will always complain."

- Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens

DANI OLMO SAGA: BARCELONA'S HANS FLICK CONFIDENT OF REGISTRATION

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said he remains confident that Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor will be able to play for the club again this season.

LaLiga and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) announced Saturday they had rejected Barça's request to re-register the duo after the Catalan club missed a Dec. 31 deadline to prove they were compliant with the league's financial fair play (FFP) rules.

Olmo, a €60 million ($61.9m) summer signing from RB Leipzig, has a clause in his contract which would allow him to leave for free if he remains unregistered for the second half of the season, but Flick says the Spain international is committed to Barça.

"I have the confidence that the club will do it," Flick said in a news conference after Saturday's 4-0 Copa del Rey win at Barbastro, a match which Olmo and Víctor were both forced to miss.

"This morning I spoke with Dani and Dani wants to play for Barça. We need him and also Pau Víctor. They are very good players. We need both of them. We have to wait. This is the only thing we can do now."

A brace from Robert Lewandowski and goals from Eric García and Pablo Torre helped Barça book their place in the Copa round of 16, with Flick insisting the drama around Olmo and Víctor will not affect the team.

Dani Olmo would be available to leave for free if he remains unregistered. Getty Images

"I think everyone wants that both of them are back because they are important players for our offence," he added.

"Today we played very focused. We played like we want. There was nothing to see or to feel that the team suffered about that. We are professional, we have to play and the team did really good."

Defender Ronald Araújo, who made his first appearance of the season against Barbastro, also expressed his desire for Barça to find a fix to the Olmo and Víctor situation as soon as possible.

"It's left a bad taste because they are our teammates," he told reporters. "We hope the club can resolve the issue. Meanwhile, we now have to turn our attention to Wednesday's Supercopa [semifinal] against Athletic Club."

Araújo had not played since injuring his hamstring representing Uruguay at the Copa América last July, but he managed to complete 90 minutes on Saturday.

"I'm really happy to win the game, but also on a personal level to be back and play 90 minutes," he added.

"I didn't know if I could play the whole match. The coach was asking me if I felt OK [to continue] and I did. It's important to build up minutes. I'm delighted."

Flick said Lamine Yamal should also have recovered from an ankle injury to feature in the Supercopa next week, while Raphinha will travel to Saudi Arabia with the squad despite missing the Barbastro game with a "small problem."

Barça meet Athletic in Jeddah on Wednesday, with the winners facing either Real Madrid or Mallorca in the final on Jan. 12.

- Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens

RAMPANT BARCELONA GOAL FURRY FUELED BY 'LOVE OF GAME'

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick wants his team to keep their rampant scoring streak going after beating Red Star Belgrade 5-2 in the Champions League on Wednesday to extend their winning run to seven games in all competitions.

Barça have netted at least three times in each of those seven victories -- including four against both Bayern Munich and Real Madrid -- and have scored three or more goals in 10 of their 16 matches this season.

Across LaLiga and the Champions League, they have already netted 55 goals, an average of over 3.4 per game, and Flick says the players' love for competing is driving them.

"The performances are really good," Flick said in his post-game news conference. "I really enjoy the team and I think the results, they speak their own language.

"What we are doing, really focused in every match, you can see it. [The players] are doing good about the match plan we have. They realise it on the pitch and this is good to see.

"I hope [we can maintain it] -- for sure we have the confidence. Not just because of this match, but because of the whole season we have played [until] now.

"The team is doing great because they love to play football and they love to compete against any team. The best of the best, they like to compete against every team. We want to be some time [in this form] and we are working hard for that."

It's the first time since 2011-12 Barça have managed three or more goals in three straight Champions League games, while the last time they scored three of more times in seven successive games in all competitions was in 2017.

The majority of the team's goals have come from Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha, with the duo both on target in the win in Belgrade, Barça's third win in four European outings this season.

Lewandowski scored twice after Silas had cancelled out Iñigo Martínez's opener, with Raphinha and Fermín López killing the game off before Milson's late consolation for the home side.

Barcelona players celebrate on the field after beating Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League. Getty Images

The goals were Lewandowski's 18th and 19th of the season and his 98th and 99th in the Champions League. Only Cristiano Ronaldo (140) and Lionel Messi (129) have scored more.

"If I knew before, maybe I don't change him," Flick joked when asked about taking Lewandowski off in the second half with the Polish forward closing in on his 100th goal in the competition.

"But we have to also think about the next match against Real Sociedad in LaLiga on Sunday. Today he scored two really important goals. The first goal especially, to make it 2-1, was very important for us."

Defender Jules Koundé also shone in the win, providing the assists for three of the five goals from right-back.

"He is a good example for the whole team," Flick said of the French international. "We have a lot of players that improved a lot this season, they increase their performance and Jules is an absolute professional player.

"He is very focused on the pitch and in the training. I appreciate that. That he also today gave the last pass to the goals is really good to see."

The three points, which moved Barça into the top eight in the new Champions League table, were slightly tainted by a nasty looking cut to centre-back Pau Cubarsí's face in the second half.

Flick played down the incident, though, and suggested the 17-year-old will be fit to face La Real at the weekend.

"Pau has a cut, but he's doing good," Flick said. "He's OK. It's needed some stitches, but he's good. He's laughing, so it's OK."

- Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens

REAL MADRID BOSS ANCELOTTI SLAMS BARCELONA CELEBRATIONS IN CLASICO ROUT

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti was unhappy with how Barcelona's bench celebrated their fourth goal after seeing his side beaten 4-0 in Saturday's Clásico at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Robert Lewandowski scored twice, with Lamine Yamal and Raphinha also finding the net as Barça ended Madrid's 42-game unbeaten streak in LaLiga and moved six points clear of them at the top of the table.

The celebrations after the fourth goal, Raphinha's 10th of the campaign, spilled in front of the Madrid bench with Ancelotti confronting Barça coach Hansi Flick. Ancelotti, though, said his issue was with the behaviour of one of Flick's assistants.

"[The problem] was with the assistant, not with Flick," Ancelotti said in his postgame news conference when asked to clear up what had happened. "The assistant was not a gentleman with the way he celebrated in front of bench. And Flick agreed with us."

Asked about the incident in his news conference, Flick said: "I didn't see it. I just spoke with Carlo and it was something ... it's normal in this situation, when you celebrate a goal maybe it's not ... we're old enough to speak about that."

Carlo Ancelotti was unhappy with Barcelona's celebrations for their fourth goal against Real Madrid. OSCAR DEL POZO/AFP via Getty Images

Madrid had won the past four Clásicos in all competitions and avoiding defeat here would have seen them match Barça's LaLiga record 43-game unbeaten streak.

However, following a goalless first half, they collapsed after the break.

Lewandowski scored twice in three minutes to take his tally to 17 for the campaign in all competitions. Then Yamal, becoming the youngest Clásico scorer at 17, and Raphinha completed the rout.

"Until the goal, it was an even game," Ancelotti said. "We had chances and could have scored, but we weren't clinical. When they score, it saps some energy from you and it becomes another game. They did a lot of damage on the counter.

"I liked the first half, we have to follow that line. We don't have to throw everything away, we just have to forget the last 30 minutes. We can't give up, we just have to learn. We came out of the last defeat well against Atlético Madrid last season and we have to do the same. I am certain we will do better."

It proved a tough introduction to the Clásico for Kylian Mbappé, who had two goals ruled out for offside and missed a slew of chances.

In total, Mbappé was caught offside eight times -- tied for most in a LaLiga game in the past 15 seasons -- as Los Blancos, who had 12 offside calls in total, struggled to get in behind Barça's high line.

"We took risks with his position," Ancelotti added of Mbappé's performance. "They have a high line and due to fine margins we have not been able to take advantage of it. He has also had three or four chances and has not taken them when we need a little more.

"The result doesn't reflect what happened on pitch. Barça go ahead and then the confidence that came from that changed the game. We took risks and they're a team in form who were dangerous on the break. The defeat worries me, but we have to pick ourselves up quickly. We have to keep fighting. We're not going to be that far away this season from what we did last season."

The result capped a remarkable week for Barça, coming just four days after they demolished Bayern Munich 4-1 in the Champions League.

Under Flick they have now won 12 of 14 games in all competitions, but the German coach refused to get carried away.

"We start the journey and we're doing really well," he said. "Like I always say, we have to make things better and we do it also, but today was not easy. We keep going with our idea, we have a flow at the moment and we have to keep going.

"I've always said I'm really happy to work for Barça and also to live in Barcelona. It's an amazing job, it's a new part of my life and it feels really good. Today we made a fantastic match and I'm really proud about the team. And how we play is very important as well.

"This will give the players more confidence. The celebration in the dressing room was good to see. Now we have a recovery day, then I give the players two days off and after the focus is on Espanyol next weekend."

- Sam Marsden, Barcelona correspondent

BARCELONA'S RAPHINHA SAYS BAYERN ROUT 'REVENGE' FOR FANS

Barcelona forward Raphinha said Wednesday's thumping 4-1 Champions League win over Bayern Munich served as "revenge" for the club's supporters for past results against the German giants.

Raphinha starred with a hat trick on his 100th appearance for Barça as the Catalan club ended a run of six successive defeats against Bayern in the competition.

The Brazilian was only there for two of those games -- and he had not signed for Barça when they lost 8-2 to Bayern in 2020 -- but he said he experienced them all as a supporter.

"It was revenge for the fans I think," Raphinha said after the game. "For us on the inside, the players, we don't look at the past. We focus on the next game. But I suffered those games as a fan, too.

"It's been an amazing, special night, scoring [a hat trick] on my 100th game for the club. I am very happy with the performance and how we played.

"As a team, we played really well and that's the most important thing for me. Getting that second win in the Champions League was important."

Barça and Bayern both came into the fixture at the Olympic Stadium with one win and one loss from their opening games in this season's Champions League, making it imperative not to drop more points given the uncertainty over how many will be needed to progress in the new format.

Raphinha opened the scoring inside the opening minute, but Harry Kane drew Bayern level with his 14th goal of the season in all competitions.

Robert Lewandowski restored Barça's lead before half-time and two more goals from Raphinha either side of the break earned Barça the points in a game the former Leeds United attacker feels could have been the final.

"I said before the game this could be a Champions League final," he added. "Maybe not everyone agrees with me, but in my opinion it could be.

"So to be able to win in this manner, in front of our fans, is quite special and I am really happy."

Raphinha celebrates with his Barcelona teammates after beating Bayern Munich in the Champions League. Getty Images

Raphinha, who captained Barça on the night, now has nine goals and six assists in all competitions in what is his third season with the Blaugrana. He was named MVP by UEFA for his performance.

"I will give [the MVP] award to my son, it will be another trophy for him, although he prefers the match balls," he joked. "But it's a trophy that shows what I can do in the Champions League. Since I signed I have dreamed of these nights: scoring goals, playing these games and making a difference."

The victory sets Barça up perfectly for Saturday's trip to Real Madrid for the first Clásico of the season. If they win at the Santiago Bernabéu, they could open up a six point lead at the top of the table.

Coach Hansi Flick -- who was in charge of Bayern for that 8-2 four years ago -- lauded an "incredible" win against his former side, but tempered expectations about winning the Champions League as he looked ahead to taking on Madrid.

"No, it's too soon, we just started the season," he said in a news conference when asked if the result makes Barça a genuine contender to win the trophy. "We're on a long road in LaLiga and in the Champions League. We are taking things game by game. We're obviously very proud of the result tonight, but on Saturday it continues with another hard game.

"We want to deliver another top performance. It's an incredible result against a fantastic team and gives us confidence for Saturday. I am very proud of the team. We saw the joy of the team and how they celebrated."

It was a different story for Bayern, who tasted defeat for the second game running in the Champions League after losing at Aston Villa last time out.

Coach Vincent Kompany had few complaints with the result, but said there were moments around Kane's equaliser when he thought his side could get points from the game.

"What I can share at the moment is how we felt the game went at the start or in the first half versus what we thought we could achieve in this game," Kompany said in a news conference. "I think all of us, and you guys would have felt it too, felt like we could edge this game, that it could turn for us.

"But in key moments we got outdone and for that reason the result is fairly heavy. We have to learn from this game so the next opportunities we have we are stronger again."

- Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens

BARÇA STREAK ENDS WITH HUGE LOSS 🤔

 

BARCELONA MAKE LOAN OFFER FOR LIVERPOOL'S BAJCETIC

Stefan Bajčetić has yet to feature for Arne Slot's Liverpool in the Premier League. Nikki Dyer - LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Barcelona are in talks to hijack Liverpool midfielder Stefan Bajčetić's move to RB Salzburg, sources have confirmed to ESPN.

Bajčetić, 19, has emerged as a loan target for Barça after Marc Bernal was ruled out for months with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament injury on Wednesday.

Salzburg, now coached by Jürgen Klopp's former assistant Pep Lijnders, were in the driving seat to complete a deal for the Spanish youngster.

However, the emergence of Barça could change Bajčetić's final destination before the transfer window closes on Friday.

Former Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara knows Bajčetić well from his time at Anfield and sources say he is pushing hard for a season-long loan move to be completed.

Thiago was part of new Barça coach Hansi Flick's coaching staff during the summer on a short-term deal and could return again when he's completed his badges.

Sources add that other clubs in Spain, Germany and France have also made enquiries to Liverpool.

The Catalan side had previously decided against bolstering their midfield this summer but Bernal's injury has changed their plans.

With Gavi and Frenkie de Jong still out injured and Ilkay Gündogan back at Manchester City, they have been left short in the middle of the park.

Barça have had trouble registering new signings this summer, with Dani Olmo missing the first two games of the season before making his debut in the win over Rayo Vallecano on Tuesday after his inscription was finally processed.

However, with Bajčetić only arriving on a potential loan deal and not commanding a huge salary, there is hope they would be able to make space to register him while complying with LaLiga's financial regulations.

Bajčetić joined Liverpool from his hometown club Celta Vigo in 2020 and has made 22 appearances for the first team.

Initially a centre-back, Klopp moved him into midfield, while he can also play anywhere across the back four.

Injuries have hampered his progress in recent seasons but sources say he is fully fit after a full preseason.

- Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens

BARCELONA BOSS FLICK LAUDS LEWANDOWSKI AFTER PROLIFIC LALIGA START

Hansi Flick lauded goal-getter Robert Lewandowski after the striker netted the winner in Barcelona's 2-1 win against Athletic Club at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday.

Lewandowski celebrated turning 36 this week by following up last weekend's brace against Valencia with his third goal in two LaLiga games.

Flick, who worked with Lewandowski at Bayern Munich, has been especially impressed with his fitness and work off the ball.

"I know him, I have worked with him and he's 100% fit, you can see it," the German coach said in a news conference.

"Against the ball he's doing great. He presses with the team from the front, so we always receive the ball very high. It's good for our game.

"Robert is an absolute professional player, working hard on his fitness, this body he has, it's not this age.

"For me, when he is fit, when he is positive, it helps us a lot. He knows how to score goals and also when he is under pressure."

Barça took the lead through Lamine Yamal but Athletic levelled before the break via an Oihan Sancet penalty.

Lewandowski twice hit the woodwork and saw another shot saved brilliantly by Álex Padilla before turning home the winner in the 75th minute.

"We needed this second goal and Robert had the chance and he took it," Flick added.

"This is his job and he is doing this great over years now, not only this year.

"Of course, in the first half especially he could score one or two goals, but I have to see it again, it's just the impression on the bench.

"But, at the end, this is a goal-getter, a striker who scores goals. The second goal for us was the winner, three points, perfect."

Lewandowski's goal ensured Flick's perfect start as Barça coach continued as they made it six points from two games.

"I think it's always good to improve," Flick said of his team's start to the campaign.

"That is what I said to the team. Every match is a step in front, so we want to do better, this is what we are doing.

"We analyse the match, see where we can do things better for the next match."

Barça's start has been all the more impressive given the youngsters involved in the team, with Yamal, Pau Cubarsí and Marc Bernal all still 17.

Bernal made his debut against Valencia at the base of the midfield and kept his place against Athletic.

"It's nothing to do with age, it's to do with performance," Flick said of the young midfielder.

"He's doing good, in the preseason we could say he has something we need. Today also he is doing great and it was not easy against Athletic, they have a good idea how they want to play football.

"It was very important we have a No .6 focused on the defence and this is what he did."

- Sam Marsden, Barcelona correspondent

DANI OLMO OUT DUE TO REGISTRATION ISSUES

Photo by MANAURE QUINTERO/AFP via Getty Images

Dani Olmo will be forced to miss Saturday's LaLiga clash against Athletic Club after Barcelona lost their race to have him registered in time for the fixture, a source has told ESPN.

Olmo, 26, joined Barça from RB Leipzig for an initial €55 million ($61.6m) earlier this summer but his inscription with the league has not yet gone through due to the club's continued financial woes.

Barça remain in excess of their league-imposed annual spending limit -- a cap which all Spanish clubs have and is roughly determined by the difference between a team's revenue minus non-sporting outgoings and debt repayments -- and must reduce the wage bill and/or increase revenue to register new additions.

As a result, Olmo missed the opening-day win against Valencia last weekend.

He has been named in the squad to face Athletic, with Barça previously his inclusion was "pending the player registration being completed with LaLiga." Later on Saturday, the

Barça were working on a series of outgoings in an attempt to ensure Olmo is available for coach Hansi Flick on Saturday.

Ilkay Gündogan's departure to Manchester City has already been confirmed, while Clément Lenglet, Mikayil Faye and Vitor Roque are all close to leaving, too.

Sources confirmed to ESPN that Lenglet will sign a contract extension until 2027, spreading his remaining salary over two years instead of three, before going on a season long loan to LaLiga side Atlético Madrid.

Defender Faye is set to join French side Rennes for an initial €14m as part of a deal that includes various add-ons and clauses which would allow Barça to re-sign the young Senegal international in the future.

Roque, meanwhile, will join Real Betis on loan after failing to secure a place in Barça's first team following his €35m transfer from Club Athletico Paranaense in January.

Elsewhere, midfielder Fermín López makes the Barça squad for the first time this season after returning from some time off following success with Spain at the European Championships and the Olympic Games this summer.

There is no Andreas Christensen, though, who has an Achilles problem and is set for several weeks on the sidelines.

"I think he cannot help the team [at the moment] and he knows that," Flick said in a news conference on Friday. "Last year, he made many games only 60 minutes with problems. Now we take care of that."

Barça are also without long-term absentees Ronald Araújo, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong and Ansu Fati.

- Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens

BARCELONA REACH AGREEMENT WITH LEIPZIG TO SIGN OLMO -

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Barcelona have reached an agreement in principle with RB Leipzig for the transfer of midfielder Dani Olmo to the LaLiga giants, a source told ESPN.

The signing is pending agreement on final details and a medical on Thursday. Olmo is already in Barcelona with his agent and should join his new Barça teammates in training on Friday.

Barcelona sporting director Deco met with Leipzig representatives on Tuesday morning to complete the signing, which would total around €60 million ($65.6m). While the agreement is yet to be finalised, the source indicated that Barça, who have yet to add a summer signing, would agree to Leipzig's terms for the player.

The Spain international has become Barça's top target in this transfer window after they failed to sign Athletic Club forward Nico Williams.

"We are ready to talk about it," Marcel Schäfer, Leipzig's managing director for sport, said of Barça's interest in Olmo in a news conference on Tuesday. "But Dani has a certain value. Dani is an exceptional player."

Barça have already agreed to personal terms with Olmo, who is keen to return to the club he began his career at.

Olmo scored three goals at Euro 2024 to finish as the joint-winner of the Golden Boot and help Spain win the tournament.

The 26-year-old, whose contract at Leipzig expires in June 2027, has scored 29 goals in his four seasons at the club.

Meanwhile, Williams returned to preseason training at Athletic Club on Tuesday.

"I'm back, I'm looking forward to this season, let's go Athletic," he said in a video shared by the club on X.

ESPN's Adriana Garcia and Sam Marsden contributed to this report.

- Jordi Blanco and Moises Llorens

MAN CITY MANAGER PEP GUARDIOLA REJECTS IDEA OF BARCELONA RETURN

 

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has closed the door on a return to Barcelona at any time in the future.

Guardiola, whose contract with City expires in June 2025, hinted in May that next season could be his last at the Etihad.

When asked on Monday if a return to Barça could be on the cards, Guardiola, who guided the Catalan outfit to 14 honours during his four seasons in charge, said: "It's a door that is closed."

The 53-year-old spoke during a news conference at his annual golf tournament, the Legends Trophy, that is being played in Girona, Spain.

"The Barça bench is one of the most complicated because you have to manage many cases. In Manchester everything we do remains inside and at Barça, everything comes out," he said.

The former Barça player coached City to a record fourth-successive Premier League title one year after leading his team to a historic treble.

Barça finished the 2023-24 campaign trophy-less and appointed Hansi Flick as Xavi Hernández's replacement in May. Xavi was dismissed at the end of the season with the club looking for a change in direction.

Xavi took over the Spanish team in November 2021 and was often compared to Guardiola.

Guardiola said of those comparisons: "What is certain is that it's not my fault. That's for sure. I've been 11 or 12 years away from Barcelona. I'm not a suspect in that sense. Ask that to those that have made the comparisons, I haven't. I wish Xavi the best in finding a new challenge."

As for Xavi's successor, Guardiola said he believes Barça are in good hands. Flick, who had been out of work since September 2023 when he was fired by the Germany national team, had previously overseen considerable success at Bayern Munich.

The German manager won the Champions League as part of a treble in 2020 before he took on the Germany job in the summer of 2021.

"I wish him the best of luck in the world," Guardiola said.

"When you arrive at a new club you always need help. You have to try to get help from within and have total support. You have to go little by little. You can't be champion in September or October.

"Hansi is an extraordinary person, who has a lot of desire. A lot. But he needs his time. What he did at Bayern was extraordinary, he won everything."

Barça finished runners-up to Real Madrid in LaLiga, with their rivals adding France star Kylian Mbappé to their already strong roster.

"With or without Mbappé, they are always strong," Guardiola said.

"It's the rival to beat in the Champions [League], without a doubt. Everyone knows that. For all of us that are behind them, it's a motivation to try to beat them. Madrid has always been very strong and they are adding up front a player that has a lot of strength."

- Adriana Garcia

FC BARCELONA WELCOMES NEW MANAGER | HANS-DIETER FLICK

 

REAL MADRID VS FC BARCELONA 2-2 POST MATCH ANALYSIS

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