La Liga

Turki Al-Ali, the CEO of Qatari football club Al-Sadd, announced Friday they've reached an agreement to allow manager Xavi to leave the team to take over at Barcelona.

The Spanish side paid an undisclosed amount to trigger a release clause so Xavi, who played most of his decorated club career with Barca, could return to Camp Nou:

Xavi joined Barcelona's famed youth academy, La Masia, in 1991 at the age of 11, and he didn't leave the club until 2015 after more than 700 appearances for the first team.

The playmaker was often the engine who made the Blaugrana's attack run, a role he also played to near perfection for the Spanish national team.

His list of accolades includes eight La Liga and four Champions League trophies at Barca along with the 2010 World Cup title with and two European Championships with Spain.

Xavi joined Al-Sadd as a player in 2015 and transitioned into the role of manager in 2019. He guided the side to the Qatar Stars League title last season.

The 41-year-old Barca legend confirmed Wednesday he was hoping a deal would get worked out that would allow him to take over as the storied club's manager:

It's a question of common sense, and in the end it has to happen. I am excited. I'm really looking forward to returning home. I hope it happens. It would be spectacular to coach Barca. The two clubs are in conversations. I can't say a lot more, but I'm a positive person. They have to reach an agreement. That's where it's at. The two clubs know my position and I hope there is a solution soon.

Barcelona is off to a sluggish start to the 2021-22 term, which led manager Ronald Koeman to being sacked in late October. It sits ninth in the La Liga table having won four and lost four of its opening 11 matches, and it's staring down a critical UCL fixture against Benfica on Nov. 23 that will play a key role in determining which side advances to the knockout rounds.

It's unlikely the managerial change will be finalized in time for Xavi to take over for Saturday's La Liga clash with Celta Vigo, so interim coach Sergi Barjuan will likely remain in place for one more game. Then Xavi will have the two-week international break to get settled.

The longtime midfielder will then be tasked with moving Barcelona back toward consistent trophy contention as part of a new era that began in earnest over the summer when Lionel Messi left for Paris Saint-Germain.

Barcelona announced the firing of manager Ronald Koeman on Wednesday following a 1-0 loss to Rayo Vallecano, a result that dropped them to ninth on La Liga's table with just 15 points from 10 matches. 

Per the club's statement, "Koeman will say goodbye to the squad on Thursday at the Ciutat Esportiva. FC Barcelona wishes to thank him for his service to the Club and wishes him all the best in his professional career."

Barcelona's struggles this season has extended beyond La Liga play. The team is also third in its Champions League group, with just three points in three games, behind Bayern Munich (nine points) and Benfica (four points). 

Last season was a disappointment as well. Barcelona finished third in La Liga behind rivals Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid and was eliminated from the Champions League in the Round of 16, though they did win the Copa del Rey. 

But major changes to Barcelona's roster—most notably the exit of superstar Lionel Messi—left the proud Catalan giants in something of a disarray. Koeman was unable to steer that wayward ship into calmer waters. 

The 58-year-old should land on his feet, however, after an extensive managerial career that has included stops at Ajax (2001–05), Benfica (2005-06), Valencia (2007-08), Southampton (2014-16), Everton (2016-17) and the Dutch national team (2018-20), among others. 

With his sacking, the next major question will be who Barcelona hires as his replacement. Amongst the candidates appear to be River Plate's Marcelo Gallardo, former Barcelona superstar and current Al Sadd manager Xavi and Belgium national team manager Roberto Martinez:

Getting this hire right is crucial for a Barcelona club that has continued to move in the wrong direction in recent years. Nobody expected a post-Messi world to be an easy adjustment. It takes a village to replace the GOAT. 

But Barcelona have fallen on harder times than expectations at the club will allow. Koeman bears the brunt of that responsibility for now, but if an incoming manager struggles to move this current group of players in the right direction, the gaze of accountability may focus higher up the food chain. 

Real Madrid continued its recent dominance in El Clasico with a 2-1 win over Barcelona Sunday at the Camp Nou.

The win is Real Madrid's fourth straight against its rival in La Liga matches.

David Alaba scored the opening goal for Los Blancos, while Lucas Vazquez eventually sealed the win with a second goal in extra time.

Sergio Aguero scored a consolation for Barcelona, but it was too late to prevent Real Madrid from earning a key three points in the hunt for a league title. 

It was the first El Clasico without Lionel Messi since 2007, and Barcelona went home empty-handed.

The match began slowly with a conservative approach from both sides, but Real Madrid struck first with a brilliant counterattack and finish by Alaba:

Rodrygo earned the assist on a great find to the open center back, who rocketed past the keeper in the top corner.

This was the only goal of the first half, but Barcelona had chances.

Sergino Dest had the best look for the Blaugrana in the opening 45 minutes with a open shot that he sailed over the crossbar:

Barcelona had six shots in the first half but were unable to find the net. Gerard Pique also had a chance with a header:

Barcelona stayed aggressive in the second half but had few real chances because of a lack of creativity in the final third. The hosts finished with just two shots on target in the match. 

The addition of Aguero in the 74th minute gave the attack more life, although it wasn't enough to even the match.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, played solid defense before using their speed on counters. Vinicius Junior kept pressure on throughout the second half down the left side.

Vazquez eventually put the game out of reach in the 94th on another counterattack after a great run from Marco Asensio. 

Dest slightly made up for his earlier miss with an assist to Aguero in the 97th minute, but it was too little, too late.

Both clubs will return to action for midweek La Liga battles on Wednesday. Barcelona will face Rayo Vallecano while Real Madrid hosts Osasuna.  

Barcelona midfielder Pedri has signed a new contract through 2026 with a release clause of €1 billion ($1.16 billion), the club announced Thursday. 

The 18-year-old's previous deal was set to expire at the end of the season. According to ESPN's Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens, Barcelona made signing Pedri to a new contract a priority. 

Pedri began his professional career with Las Palmas when he was just 16 years old. He joined Barcelona in early 2020 for €5 million and immediately joined Barca's senior squad.

The highly talented youngster made 52 appearances during his debut season with the Blaugrana in 2020-21. He scored four goals and was promoted to Spain's senior international team in March. 

Pedri was also included in Luis Enrique's team for Euro 2020 and won the Young Player of the Tournament prize. In addition, he played for Spain at the Tokyo Olympics, helping the country reach the gold-medal match against Brazil, a 2-1 loss. 

Pedri's stock has risen mightily since he joined Camp Nou, and there was talk he could be poached from Barca because of the club's ongoing financial crisis. German giants Bayern Munich were among the clubs with interest in the Spaniard, per Sport's Toni Juanmarti. 

However, Barcelona had no intention of parting ways with Pedri after watching club legend Lionel Messi depart for Paris Saint-Germain. Antoine Griezmann also left for Atletico Madrid following a three-year stint at Camp Nou. 

With Pedri locked up, Barcelona can focus on the future. The club was reportedly looking to replace Ronald Koeman, but president Joan Laporta said earlier this month that the coach's job was safe. 

However, ESPN reported that Koeman was kept on because of the lack of credible alternatives available. If a more intriguing boss becomes accessible, Koeman could be out. 

Barcelona has struggled early this season, sitting ninth in La Liga with a 3-3-1 record. The club has not won a league match since a 3-0 victory over Levante on September 26.  

Barcelona chief executive Ferran Reverter explained the extent of the club's financial problems at a news conference Wednesday, saying it would not have been able to survive if it was a public limited company.

"When we came in this March, we found a club that was technically bankrupt; if it was a PLC, [the club] would have been dissolved," Reverter said. "There was no cash flow and we had difficulties paying salaries. Debt and future liabilities amounted to €1.35 billion and there was an urgent need for refinancing."

Barcelona is a members-owned club with over 144,000 members.

The club was still forced to part with Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann among other high-salary players before the start of the season.

In June, Barcelona announced a loan from Goldman Sachs worth $605 million to help refinance their debts.

"If the same squad had been kept in this season, the payroll would have amounted to €835 million, 108 percent over recurring revenue," Reverter said Wednesday. "Moreover, these operations have resulted in significant and unusual intermediation costs in previous years."

Reverter specifically called out former club president Josep Maria Bartomeu for the financial issues, criticizing a number of high-priced acquisitions. He noted a 61 percent increase in the club's payroll from 2016-20.

"They didn't consider if they could pay for the players," he said. "Griezmann was signed in a rush. They realised they could not pay for him and ended up needing €85m in credit to do the deal."

Bartomeu resigned in October 2020 and was replaced by Joan Laporta.

The lack of money led to Messi leaving for Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer despite reportedly agreeing to an extension earlier in the summer, per Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens of ESPN.

Barcelona have suffered on the pitch as well, sitting ninth in the La Liga table with 12 points from seven matches. The club is in last place in its Champions League group with two losses in two matches.  

Barcelona president Joan Laporta said Saturday there are no imminent plans to replace manager Ronald Koeman despite the club's lackluster start to the 2021-22 season.

Laporta told reporters Koeman "deserves a certain amount of confidence for many reasons," and the club remains hopeful the results will improve as the term moves forward:

Koeman loves Barca and decided to come at a really difficult moment for the club institutionally and sportingly. After speaking with him, I see he has faith in the team, above all when he gets the injured players back. He has a contract [until the summer] and we hope to get back to winning ways and playing well. I am sure he will do everything possible.

We can all understand the reactions because we are not getting results, but I ask the supporters to have some confidence in the coach, he deserves it, and to have faith in this team because when everyone is available they will be even more competitive.

Barcelona entered Saturday seventh in the La Liga table with three wins and three draws from the season's first six fixtures. It also opened the Champions League campaign with back-to-back 3-0 losses to Bayern Munich and Benfica.

Wednesday's lopsided UCL defeat against the Portuguese side raised questions about whether Barca would soon sack Koeman, who was hired in August 2020.

The rumors led the 58-year-old Netherlands native to grow frustrated during his pre-match press conference Friday ahead of Saturday's visit to Wanda Metropolitano to face Atletico Madrid. He was asked questions typically reserved for a manager who has left a club, such as his favorite moments from his tenure.

"The best moment? When I signed to become Barca coach. The worst moment? When Lionel Messi left," Koeman said.

The former Barcelona defender added he was "fed up" with having to defend himself.

ESPN's Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens reported the Blaugrana had kept Koeman in charge of the coaching staff due to a "lack of credible alternatives available," though the club had "stepped up their search for a replacement" after the Benfica loss.

Laporta said Saturday he's spoken with the club's manager amid the speculation about his future and said any rumors about issues between them are overblown.

"I've spoken with him and drawn my own conclusions," he said. "I value the moment he took over the club. We've spoken, and it's not true the relationship between us is cold. It's a good and honest relationship. He's a good person, and I think he thinks the same as me. We are all trying to turn this around for the better."

Despite Laporta's comments, it wouldn't be a surprise if rumors about Koeman's future persist if Barca can't secure a positive result against Atletico on Saturday since the club heads into a two-week international break following the match.

Antoine Griezmann is back with Atletico Madrid. 

According to soccer journalist Fabrizio Romano, Griezmann is returning to the La Liga champions on a loan from Barcelona with an option to buy for €40 million ($47.2 million) after the season. 

In corresponding moves, Atletico reportedly are loaning midfielder Saul Niguez to Chelsea, while Barcelona are attempting to finalize a transfer for Sevilla forward Luuk de Jong. 

In corresponding moves, Atletico reportedly are loaning midfielder Saul Niguez to Chelsea, while Barcelona are attempting to finalize a transfer for Sevilla forward Luuk de Jong. 

Griezmann emerged as one of the game's most dangerous forwards during his time with Atletico, posting 94 league goals and 32 league assists in five seasons for the club before departing for Barca ahead of the 2019-20 season. 

The 30-year-old didn't bring that production with him, however, posting 22 goals and 11 assists in his two full seasons with Barca (71 total La Liga appearances). To put that in perspective, the Frenchman had two separate seasons scoring 22 goals with Atleti. 

Nothing will be more shocking than Messi's departure. But strengthening a key rival that won the title last season is a curious bit of business itself, even if Griezmann's tenure at the Camp Nou was an unsuccessful one. 

Barcelona is clearly building for the future around young players like Pedri, Eric Garcia and Ansu Fati while attempting to keep ambitions high for this season. But there's little doubt that it has just strengthened a key rival, even if the wage bill required it.

Barcelona reportedly continue to make a late push to acquire Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid before the summer transfer window closes Tuesday by offering Antoine Griezmann in a potential swap.

ESPN's Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens reported the latest conversations could hinge on Diego Simeone, who's "keen" to work with Griezmann again after the forward left the club in 2019 to join Barca, but the Atletico manager does not want the reunion to come at the expense of Felix.

The Colchoneros have raised the prospect of reopening talks about a swap that would send Griezmann back to Estadio Metropolitano in exchange for midfielder Saul Niguez, which was discussed earlier in the window, but Barcelona would prefer a forward in return for the French international, per ESPN.

Griezmann, 30, tallied 13 goals and seven assists across 36 La Liga appearances for Barca last season. He arrived to Camp Nou in July 2019 on a €120 million transfer.

Felix, 21, has looked like a star in the making during stints with Benfica and Atletico over the past three years. He recorded seven goals and five assists in 31 La Liga matches last term.

Barcelona made an initial offer to take the Portuguese forward on loan for 2021-22 and, after that was declined, returned with the Griezmann swap proposal, according to ESPN.

With Simeone hesitant to give up Felix in the final hours before the transfer deadline, it's unclear whether the sides have any further alternatives, or whether Barca could add further assets to entice the swap.

In 2018, Griezmann told UEFA.com before his exit from Atletico that Simeone was the “best tactical and defensive coach in the world.”

"It's a joy to work with him. He identifies every player's weaknesses and tries to improve them, making you a more complete player," Griezmann said. "He has helped me grow both on a personal and professional level. He will always ask for the best of me and make me do my best, and I'll always be there to help him and help win the games."

He won the UEFA Super Cup and Europa League under Simeone during his prior stint with the club.

While it sounds like a return is possible before the transfer window closes, the clubs still have work to do if it's going to become reality.

Real Madrid reportedly completed the acquisition of midfielder Eduardo Camavinga from Rennes on Tuesday, the final day of the summer transfer window.

Sky Sports' Fabrizio Romano reported the sides agreed on a €31 million transfer fee with add-ons that bring the total to €40 million, and Camavinga subsequently signed a contract with Los Blancos through June 2027.

Camavinga also attracted interest from other European giants, including Chelsea, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain, but Real Madrid was the only one to make a formal offer ahead of the transfer deadline, per L'Equipe (via French Football News).

The Athletic previously reported the 18-year-old France international wasn't planning to sign a new contract after his deal with Rennes ran out in 2022, which increased the club's efforts to move him.

Camavinga, who'd been with Rennes since his time as a youth player in 2013, has established himself as a terrific tackler capable of playing in either a central or defensive midfield role.

In May, he reacted to reports that several high-profile clubs were potential landing spots on the transfer market during an interview with Telefoot (via AS' Andres Onrubia).

"It makes you feel flattered and it's nice that teams like Real Madrid or Bayern are interested in your situation, I'm not going to lie. But I have not yet thought it over with my family," Camavinga said.

He ultimately decided on Los Blancos, where he'll likely compete with Casemiro for playing time in the central midfield throughout the 2021-22 season.

While Camavinga's defensive ability is already on full display, it'll be intriguing to see whether he can develop a little more confidence going forward. He recorded just one goal and two assists across 35 Ligue 1 appearances for Rennes last term.

His first chance to don a Real Madrid kit could come Sept. 12 when the club returns from the international break to face Celta Vigo at the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid is reportedly ending its pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe, according to Sky Sports and RMC Sport. 

Per Sky Sports, the "deadline for PSG to respond to Real Madrid’s €170 million ($200.5 million) plus €10 million ($11.7 million) offer for Mbappe has expired."

Real Madrid can afford to draw a hard line in the sand with PSG. Given that Mbappe seemingly has his mind set on joining Real Madrid and is spurning a contract extension from his current club, Los Blancos could simply sign him on a free transfer next season. 

In essence, Real Madrid can take the stance that PSG either accept their latest offer or risk losing arguably the best young player in the world without getting any transfer fee in return. 

Jason Burt of The Telegraph reported earlier on Monday that Real Madrid were considering upping their offer for Mbappe. It's possible Los Blancos could return to the negotiating table one last time to secure Mbappe for this season, with the transfer deadline a day away. 

Adding Mbappe would certainly aid in their quest to win La Liga and Champions League trophies this season. 

Real Madrid have been planning for this moment for two years, after all. ESPN's Alex Kirkland reported that the Spanish giants "haven't paid a transfer fee to add to their first-team squad since the summer of 2019," with president Florentino Perez "saving up" for Mbappe. 

With an Mbappe departure for Real Madrid all but imminent at this point, be it this summer or next, the only reason PSG might not sell is the prospect of European glory. The Parisien club has never won the Champions League, and keeping Mbappe to pair with Lionel Messi, Neymar and a humorously stacked roster arguably makes them the favorites this season. 

Is that worth giving up hundreds of millions of dollars though? 

Perhaps for Qatar Sports Investments, which owns PSG and has pumped over a billion dollars into the club since taking over in 2011, money isn't an issue in the face of potential footballing glory. Such a possibility is a sobering reminder of the obscene and unbalanced spending from the biggest clubs in modern football, with PSG near the top of that list.