The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Barca’

  • Barca excited to extend Neymars Contract

    Barca excited to extend Neymars Contract

    Barcelona are said to be in a “rush” to secure the services of Brazil superstar Neymar, with a contract extension in the pipeline.

    Santi Gimenez of AS reported the Blaugrana will “safeguard” the Camp Nou squad in light of the club’s transfer ban which will continue until January 2016.

    Gimenez wrote that senior figures at Barca are desperate to meet with the player’s agent and thrash out terms: “The current board are in a rush to enforce [a new deal] and they will fix a date with his [Neymar] representatives to discuss the matter.”

    Xavi Canals of Catalan publication Sport went one step further and declared Neymar is set to tie himself to his team until 2020, earning a staggering €12 million a year, doubling his current salary.

    This pay rise is seen as a reward for the player who has grown in stature in his short time in La Liga, and he has matured into one of the best in the world.

    Canals says Barca feel “indebted” to Neymar, who was originally offered a much larger wage deal to join Real Madrid but turned his back on Los Blancos, shunning the chance to be a Galactico.

    ESPN’s Catalan writer Francesc Tomas says Neymar deserves the recognition for his work at Barcelona and called him the best new talent in world football:

    And current Barca boss Luis Enrique joined in on praising the player, saying he has the ability to match the achievements of Lionel Messi and go on to be a great for his club, per Marca:

    “Neymar is at the right club to define an era. He’s a special, unique player and all of us “Cules” would love for him to do that. Can he be better than Messi? We’ll see in the future, but the bar has been set very high.”

    The Brazilian star has really taken his chance at Barcelona this season and his record speaks for itself.

    His 13 La Liga starts have yielded 14 goals, per WhoScored.com, and he is leading Barca’s charge for trophies on all fronts in tandem with Messi.

    A new deal to bring the player in line with the best paid individuals at the club is certainly to be expected and Neymar has earned every penny.

    At just 22 years old, there is still so much to come from the player who is already an icon in South America and beyond.

    One day, Messi might leave Barcelona, but the team already has an able enough leader in their ranks if that time ever materialises.

  • Why I turned down Barca, Madrid—Ferdinand

    Rio Ferdinand has revealed he ignored interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona to stay at Manchester United.

    The 35 year old said that, during his glory days at Old Trafford, he was wanted by both of Spain’s biggest clubs.

    “I spoke to Roma and also there was interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona at one time,” he told The Express. “But when I was at Manchester United and there was interest from other clubs I was winning things at Manchester United. So my head was never turned to go anywhere else.”

    The former England captain joined Queens Park Rangers on a free transfer after United opted not to renew his contract in the summer following 12 years at the club, where he won six Premier League titles and appeared in three Champions League finals, triumphing in 2008.

    Ferdinand also claimed that United’s success meant he did not want to leave, adding: “You tell someone from Manchester United or a team that’s winning things that they could go abroad and you would be hard pressed to get them to go.

    “If Gareth Bale had been at Manchester United and winning trophies he wouldn’t have gone to Real Madrid. I was just turned on by winning. I wasn’t interested in going anywhere else.”

  • Ekpolo snubbed by Barca first team

    Ekpolo snubbed by Barca first team

    Nigeria Barcelona B right full back, Elohor Godswill Ekpolo, was surprisingly omitted from the 12 youngsters from the B team, who were selected to participate in pre-season with the first team starting today.

    22 players have been called up for today’s session, 0 from the first team and 12 from Barça B.

    18-year-old Elohor, who captained the Barcelona juvenile team to the UEFA Youth League title last season, was snubbed while his fellow B team compatriots Patric, Bagnack, Diagne, Grimaldo, Samper, Halilovic, Munir, Sandro, Dani Nieto, Joan Roman, Dongou and Adama were called up.

    Last season Elohor trained with the Barcelona first team sparingly before signing a new three-year deal with the team.

    He recently returned from a surgery on his thigh and was only promoted last week to the B team who campaign in the Spanish second division, the Segunda.

  • Babatunde eyes Barca move

    Babatunde eyes Barca move

    • Cherishes World Cup debut, thanks President Jonathan
    • Says playing against Messi, Di Maria best moment of his life

    Nigeria World Cup Star and Super Eagles winger Micheal Babatunde has stated that his target as a player would be to feature for Spanish giants, Barcelona in the nearest future.

    Babatunde who is currently in an Abuja hospital where he is receiving treatment after he sustained fracture  at the ongoing World Cup told SportingLife that his focus at the moment was to see his contract out with his present club, Volyn Lutsk FC of Ukraine before looking forward to a possible move to another European side.

    Two years contract are still left in the Ukranian-based player.

    He however revealed that various clubs from across Europe are scrambling to sign himmbut refused to disclose any offer.

    He disclosed, “At the moment, I’m enjoying my stay in Volyn where I’m like their number one player. My interest now is not really how to make all the money but to build my career gradually. As I talk to you, my agent is receiving many calls every day from many clubs but I want to wait until the right time.

    On his World Cup debut appearance, the 21-year old Babatunde added “yes playing at the world Cup at my age was memorable and give God thanks. I want to also express Super Eagles technical crew for extending call-up to me. I promise to continue to do my best anytime I’m called upon to play for Nigeria.

    “I also want to use this medium to extend my gratitude to President Goodluck Jonathan and Minister of Sports for their tremendous support during the World Cup and since I sustained injury.

    Currently,the Nigerian government is bearing the cost of my treatment in the hospital here in Abuja and I will be ever ready to give my best.

    Babatunde who dazzled for Nigeria against Bosnia-Herzegovina at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil where he was preferred ahead of Chelsea’s Victor Moses also confessed that playing against world best players like Lionel Messi and Di Maria of Argentina was the best moment of his playing career which he would forever cherish for a long time to come.

    “Playing at the World Cup was a dream come true to me because I have always believed that the day I play against the likes of Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria would the highest point of my football carrier. Everything was okay for because at my age, playing as the youngest player in the Nigerian team was a very big life achievement, which I would like to carry to do well in my future carriers for both my club and the national team. It was so amazing, I prayed for this and God answered me.

    “I would like to say a big thank you to the president, the minister of sports and the leadership of the NFF for standing behind me during my injury at the world cup group match against Argentina.

    “With the type of support I have received so far from the government and Nigerians,I cannot do but promise to give all my best to the Super Eagles whenever I am called up to represent my country.

    I was filled with joy when coach Stepehn Keshi told me that I would start at the match against Bosnia because I never thought I would make to the world cup, not to talk of making the start list of the super eagles. But I know I worked very hard during training and I am still a young boy that has just started in the game. I wanted to use my surprise inclusion to the Super Eagles World Cup squad to prove that it I rightly deserved a place in the team and I thank God that I was able to make that despite the injury I sustained against Argentina.” The super Eagles’ winger noted.

     

  • Barca reignite interest in Hummels

    El Mundo Deportivo is reporting that Barcelona are set to launch a fresh assault on Borussia Dortmund stopper Mats Hummels.

    The Catalans are currently in talks for Marquinhos and Jeremy Mathieu, but with negotiations showing little progress, they are also considering alternative targets.

    Borussia Dortmund star remains one of the names on club’s wish list, although the fact Borussia value him at €40 million could prove to be a problem.

    The 25-year-old has been putting in some great performances for Germany at the 2014 World Cup, where Die Mannschaft are 8/11 to lift the trophy.

    Hummels is reportedly keen on a switch to Camp Nou, but it remains to be seen if the two clubs can reach an agreement over the transfer fee.

    Meanwhile, the Catalans are also looking at Fabian Schar, Jan Vertonghen and Federico Fazio as they continue their search for a long-term successor to club icon Carles Puyol.

  • Igiebor relishes display against Barca

    Igiebor relishes display against Barca

    Swaps jersey with Alex Song after game

     

    Real Betis’ Nosa Igiebor believes he is heading in the right direction, after he put up a man of the match display in his Spanish La Liga side 2-4 loss to champions-elect Barcelona last Sunday.

    Igiebor switched to Spain from Israeli side, Hapoel Tel Aviv barely a season after joining the club but he has endured a torrid time with the Beticos just in his first season of moving to the La Liga side.

    The Edo born midfielder told SportingLife Monday that he was happy with his display against Barca despite playing against the acclaimed best team in the world.

    He stressed that he has blended with the toughness of the La Liga matches and that he will rank his input versus Barcelona same as that of games against Valencia, Getafe and Sevilla where he was adjudged to have got rave review.

    Igiebor predicts a bright future for himself in the La Liga and he has implored those that spread negative information about him to desist from doing so in the interest of peace.

    He affirmed that he is a crowd favourite and that the management of the Basque based club is solidly behind him and eager to see him start another season with Betis.

    “I was told I won the man of the match award and that a special wine will be given to me later. It was awesome claiming such accolade where Barcelona’s midfielders and other players were.

    “Though we lost to calamitous defending, I was impressed with the fact that we gave Barcelona a run for their money last Sunday,” the former U23 international noted.

    He also confirmed he swapped his jersey with Barcelona midfielder and fellow African, Alex Song after the game.

    Igiebor said Betis would go all out to get a spot in Europe after what he termed an impressive season by all standard for the club.

    Betis have 49 points from 34 games to stay in the 7th position.

  • CL: Brilliant Bayern demolish Barca

    CL: Brilliant Bayern demolish Barca

    Bayern Munich took a massive step towards the Champions League final with an incredible 4-0 thrashing of Barcelona in the first leg of their last four clashes at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday.

    Thomas Muller opened the scoring with a close-range header, and put the second on a plate for Mario Gomez minutes into the second half.

    Muller would controversially play a role in Arjen Robben’s goal after apparently fouling Jordi Alba off the ball, before tapping in the fourth himself with eight minutes remaining to round off the biggest ever margin of victory in a Champions League semi-final.

    Bayern could have been ahead as early as the fourth minute. Robben exchanged passes with Gomez, and it took the outstretched legs of Victor Valdes to deny the Dutch winger from point blank range.

    Barca was winning the possession battle, but it was the Bavarian side who controlled the opening exchanges. Javi Martinez’ tumble in the box was correctly ignored by the referee, who was forced into a bigger no-call when Philipp Lahm’s shot struck Pique’s elbow.

    The Barca defender headed wide at the other end from a corner, but it was an isolated scare from the blunted Catalans, and with 25 minutes on the clock, Bayern made their superiority count.

    A corner was worked to Robben, whose cross was flicked on by Dante, and Muller was first to the ball, sneaking a header past Valdes at the post.

    Gomez then picked up the first yellow card of the game for barging into Messi, and he was quickly followed into the book by Bartra and Martinez for challenges on Muller and Andres Iniesta either side of the interval.

    Just like the first goal, Robben’s delivery was met by a Bayern head, with Muller guiding the ball towards the goal line, where Gomez was waiting to gleefully bundle the ball home.

    The Bundesliga side was simply dominating, and the match threatened to get ugly very fast for Barca had Muller and Franck Ribery been more accurate when presented with the chance to pick their spot from great shooting positions.

    But the third goal was always on the cards, and it duly arrived with 17 minutes remaining, albeit in contentious circumstances. Muller’s off the ball block on Alba went unheeded, and with the full-back out of the way, Robben curled sublimely into the far corner.

    And in the 82nd minute, it was 4-0. David Alaba’s overlapping run down the left ended with a low cross into the six-yard area, where Muller was waiting to turn into the back of the net to leave the second leg at Camp Nou as little more than a formality, and finish off an epic 24 hours for Bayern.

  • Agbim, Akpeyi to stop Barca stars

    Agbim, Akpeyi to stop Barca stars

    WITH NONE of the foreign based goalkeepers not expected to hit camp early enough for the Catalonia friendly on January 2nd, NPL stars, Chigozie Agbim and Daniel Akpeyi have the tough task of stopping Barcelona’s Carlos Puyol and the gang in the friendly.

    It is expected that at least one of the two goalkeepers will make the final cut to South Africa with the Israeli duo of Vincent Enyema and Austin Ejide appearing home and dry.

    Expectedly, a good performance by any of the duo chosen to be between the sticks in Wednesday’s friendly could help boost their chances in making a debut appearance at the Nations Cup.

  • Barca must fall —Emenike

    Barca must fall —Emenike

    EMMANUEL EMENIKE has said home team Spartak Moscow must beat Barcelona on today to stay alive in the Champions League.

    Spartak are bottom of Group G with three points from four matches, but they could improve their chances of going past the group stage with a win over the Catalan giants Barcelona who they almost upset at Camp Nou in September before they lost 3-2.

    “Our game at home on Tuesday against Barcelona is a must-win game for us to boost our chances. I will do my best to get in the goals that will help us beat Barcelona,” Emenike told MTNFootball.com

    “We lost to them at Camp Nou narrowly. I am sure we can beat them.

    “The home loss to Celtic was a big setback for us, but that’s in the past and getting past Barca is my target.”

    He added: “Beating Celtic and Barcelona are the only remedies for us to be part of the next round. We can do it for the fact that Celtic beat Barca, we also can beat both of them.

    “We can’t be written off, this is football and anything can happen in our next two games. And we just need to stay positive and give our best.”

    Spartak final group game will be on December 5 away at second-placed Celtic, who shocked the top Russia club 3-2 in the reverse fixture early last month.

  • ‘We need God to beat Barca’

    ‘We need God to beat Barca’

    Spartak Moscow coach Unai Emery insists his side do not need “divine intervention” to beat Barcelona in the Champions League.

    Even though the trainer understands the difficulty of the task at hand, he believes there are ways to defeat the Catalans, and is determined to leave the Camp Nou victorious this week.

    “When you take on Barcelona, you have to call on divine intervention or luck to beat them. But there are teams that have managed to defeat them,” Emery told Marca.

    “So there are certainly ways to win against Barca. We all try to achieve it, but only the few chosen ones indeed beat them. We are working to become one of them.”

    Emery then went on to praise Lionel Messi, and stressed that the Argentine always seems to be in fine form.

    “Whenever Messi is on top of his game, which always appears to be the case, he makes the difference and can decide a game all by himself.”

    Messi has already netted 61 goals in 2012, and will be looking to add to his tally against Spartak.