Barcelona
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has said that captain Lionel Messi will end his career at the Catalan club, dismissing a report saying the Argentine no longer wishes to renew his current contract when it expires next year.
Barcelona may be about to lose the league but losing Lionel Messi would be much harder to stomach.
According to Spanish reports, Messi is fed up with the current club board after many conflicts between the player and the directors in recent years.
Real Madrid have a chance to secure a four-point lead when they host Getafe at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on Thursday night.
Barcelona gave up more ground to Real Madrid in La Liga’s title race on Tuesday after being held to a 2-2 draw at home to third-placed Atletico Madrid as a late penalty from Saul Niguez cancelled out Lionel Messi’s 700th career goal.
Barcelona have reached an agreement to sell Brazil midfielder Arthur Melo to Juventus for a fee of 72 million euros ($80.98 million) and signed Bosnian Miralem Pjanic from the Italian champions for 60 million, the La Liga side said on Monday.
Juventus are set to sign Brazil international Arthur Melo from Barcelona after the midfielder agreed a five-year contract with the Italian champions and passed a medical, according to Spanish media reports on Sunday.
Barcelona forward Luis Suarez lamented his side’s 2-2 draw at Celta Vigo on Saturday after the champions twice threw away the lead to hand more momentum to title rivals Real Madrid.
The pressure will be on Barcelona manager Quique Setién and his players who aim to get the three points to keep chasing the league leaders, Real Madrid.
Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic scored his first goal of the season to give his side a 1-0 win at home to Athletic Bilbao on Thursday, averting a second successive draw which would have further dented the champions’ La Liga title defence.
Madrid beat Sociedad 2-1 to climb above Barcelona at the top of La Liga but the home side were aggrieved because they had a goal ruled out by VAR for offside and Karim Benzema’s winner stood after he appeared to control the ball with his arm.
Barcelona's draw gives the chance to the title contenders Real Madrid to reach the top when they face Real Sociedad on Sunday night.
The manager is aware of the difficulty of playing against Sevilla as Setién managed Sevilla's local rivals, Real Betis, between 2017 and 2019.
Lionel Messi returned without a beard and with a goal and two assists as Barcelona resumed their La Liga title challenge on Saturday with a thumping 4-0 victory over Real Mallorca.
The player featured in 25 games in all competitions and scored five goals in his debut season with the club.
Barcelona face Real Mallorca on Saturday night and they aim for a strong restart to their campaign to defend the LaLiga title.
"Of course it won't be the entire stadium and there will be special precautionary measures," Tebas said.
Lionel Messi returned to the Camp Nou on Saturday after missing two group training sessions with a slight leg injury, while Luis Suarez is set to be fit for the La Liga restart next week.
Egypt Today sports editor took part on Wednesday in a global video conference organized by LaLiga to discuss the long-awaited return of LaLiga.
The Argentinian star has sustained an adductor injury and he is expected to miss the club's first game after LaLiga return against Real Mallorca.