FC Barcelona

Neymar has been cleared of any wrongdoing in the investigation of fraud and corruption charges in Spain related to his 2013 transfer from Santos to Barcelona.

According to Reuters, prosecutors dropped all of the chargers against the Paris Saint-Germain star after all defendants testified.

"There is not the slightest hint of crime," prosecutor Luis Garcia Canton said of the decision.

Citing a source close to the Neymar family, Reuters reported their legal representatives "would claim costs against the private prosecution for what they consider recklessness, acting in poor faith and for abuse of process" and reserve the right to claim for damages.

In 2014, Spanish authorities opened an investigation into alleged tax fraud of 9.1 million euros into Barcelona related to Neymar's transfer.

Per ESPN's Dermot Corrigan, the issue appeared to be related to two payments made in 2011 and 2013 totaling 37.9 million euros that went to a Brazilian-based company controlled by Neymar's father that should have been considered taxable income.

Neymar was named in a separate fraud lawsuit in June 2015 filed by Brazilian investment fund DIS, which owned 40 percent of his transfer rights, related to the move.

Barcelona were originally reported to have signed Neymar for $65 million in 2013, but investigators alleged the club paid a much higher price while only declaring the reported amount.

Barcelona denied any wrongdoing throughout the investigation. The trial for Neymar and eight others began in Barcelona on Oct. 17.

Prosecutors were seeking a two-year prison term and $9.8 million fine for Neymar. They also wanted former Barca president Sandro Rosell to receive five years in prison and for the club to be fined.

Reuters noted at the start of the trial that DIS was demanding five years in jail for Neymar and a fine of 149 million euros for the defendants.

Neymar began his senior career with Santos in 2009. The Brazilian star then spent four years with Barcelona before moving to PSG in August 2017.

Barcelona said in a statement released Wednesday that it is "studying the legal measures that need to be taken" after El Mundo leaked details of contract negotiations that took place between the club and superstar forward Lionel Messi in 2020, per ESPN's Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens.

The full statement read:

In relation to the information published in El Mundo under the title 'Barca Leaks, the club's secret files', Barcelona express indignation at the intentional leaking of information that is part of a legal process.

The club regrets that the media in question boasts of having 'access to a huge number of documents and emails that are part of the Barcagate investigation' when this information is yet to be shared.

In any case, the article in question makes public documents that have nothing to do with the ongoing case and their use is an affront to the reputation and confidentiality of the club. For that reason, and with the aim of protecting Barcelona's rights, the club's legal department are studying the legal measures that need to be taken.

Per El Mundo's report, Messi wanted to reduce his buyout clause to just €10,000 ($9,849), wanted guarantees the club would pay him his deferred wages, desired a three-year deal that included a €10 million signing bonus and a player option for a fourth season in 2024 and other considerations, including private boxes for both his and Luis Suarez's family at Camp Nou.

Messi reportedly would have taken a 20 percent pay cut on his €70 million annual salary but wanted to be paid back that sum with interest in the future.

He ultimately signed with Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer in 2021. Despite agreeing to terms with new club president Joan Laporta, Barcelona's financial woes made them unable to register the agreement with La Liga.

El Mundo became privy to Messi's previous contract requests in negotiations with Barcelona after reportedly obtaining emails that police had gathered during an investigation into the club. Messi himself is not being investigated.

Per ESPN's report, "Barcagate is an ongoing legal case relating to third-party payments, breaching internal protocols and smear campaigns against club legends involving the previous president Josep Maria Bartomeu and his board of directors."

Barcelona no longer has to worry about making its summer transfers official.

Barca has officially registered signings Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Franck Kessié and Andreas Christensen, along with new contracts for Sergi Roberto and Ousmane Dembélé, according to ESPN's Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens.

The only player left to be registered is Jules Koundé.

Barcelona's biggest summer signing was Lewandowski, who agreed to a $46 million deal after playing the last eight seasons with Bundesliga side Bayern Munich. In total, La Blaugrana spent $154 million on Lewandowski, Raphinha and Koundé.

Earlier Friday, the club sold 24.5 percent of Barca Studios, its in-house production company, to Orpheus Media for $103 million in order to register its summer signings. It marked the fourth "financial lever" the club has used leading up to the 2022-23 season.

Barca previously sold 24.5 percent of Barca Studios to Socios.com, along with 25 percent of its domestic television rights to Sixth Street in two transactions that totaled more than $520 million.

While Barcelona raised $615 million with those three transactions, La Liga told the club it needed to sell more assets or reduce its wage bill to register its new signings, so it enacted the fourth financial lever Friday.

Despite the moves, Barca is more than $1 billion in debt, per ESPN, a big part of why it couldn't bring back club legend Lionel Messi last year.

Barcelona aims to create more salary space by renegotiating the contract of Gerard Pique, according to ESPN. The club is also looking to unload the contract of Frenkie de Jong.

Barca agreed to a deal for De Jong with Manchester United worth over $80 million in July, according to ESPN's Rob Dawson. However, the Dutchman prefers to stay with the club.

To remain with Barcelona, De Jong must reduce his salary. However, he is reportedly refusing to do so.

Barcelona is set to open the 2022-23 season tomorrow against Rayo Vallecano.

Barcelona sold 24.5 percent of its in-house production company to Orpheus Media for €100 million ($103 million) as it attempts to meet La Liga financial requirements for its seven remaining summer signings, including Robert Lewandowski.

ESPN's Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens reported Friday that the sale of a stake in Barça Studios, combined with a potential contract adjustment for center back Gerard Pique, leaves the club "hopeful the situation can now be resolved" ahead of Saturday's match against Rayo Vallecano.

Barcelona reached a €45 million ($46.3 million) agreement with Bayern Munich in mid-July to acquire Lewandowski, per David Ornstein of The Athletic.

The deal hasn't been finalized over the past month, however, and now the club is in a race against time to ensure the superstar striker is available for the season-opening fixture.

Lewandowski scored 35 goals in 34 Bundesliga appearances last season as Bayern rolled to its 10th straight domestic championship.

The 33-year-old Poland international told Polish newspaper Meczyki (via Julian Bovill for MailOnline) that a desire for a new challenge led to the Barça transfer.

"I knew my career at Bayern was continuous. I needed a new challenge," he said. "The next goals and trophies in Germany were, of course, important, but not as rewarding. I admit that I was starting to have a problem with it. I needed a strong impulse, and that could only be a transfer."

So far, there's no sign the deal could fall through because of the financial issues.

It's the same hurdle Barcelona failed to jump last summer when it was trying to re-sign club legend Lionel Messi before announcing it wasn't possible because of La Liga's "regulations on player registration."

The Blaugrana have now triggered four different financial levers this summer in an effort to satisfy Spain's top league and get its signings registered, per Marsden and Llorens.

Raphinha, Jules Koundé, Franck Kessié and Andreas Christensen join Lewandowski as the new arrivals waiting for approval, while Sergi Roberto and Ousmane Dembélé were re-signed and also must be registered to take the pitch Saturday, according to the ESPN report.

It could leave Barcelona undermanned for the opener at Camp Nou if there are any final hiccups over the next 24 hours.

Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez said Monday there's no chance Lionel Messi returns to the La Liga club from Paris Saint-Germain ahead of the 2022-23 season.

Xavi described the idea of Messi coming back to Camp Nou one year after his departure as "impossible" at the moment because of his PSG contract, but he admitted that outlook could change in the future.

"It doesn't make sense to speak about Messi. He is the best player in the world and the best ever," Xavi told reporters. "The president has already said that he hopes Messi's story has not finished with Barcelona. We will see in the future, but it's not the moment to speak about Leo, it's the moment to talk about the exciting players we have here."

Messi was expected to remain at Barcelona last summer, and the sides even reached an agreement on a contract extension to keep him with the club, but Barca announced last August the deal couldn't be finalized because of La Liga's "regulations on player registration."

Less than a week later he joined PSG. French outlet L'Equipe reported (via AS' Andres Onrubia) that the legendary forward signed a two-year contract with an option for a third season at the Parc des Princes worth up to $129 million.

Joan Laporta returned to the role of Barcelona president in March 2021 after running a campaign heavily focused on Messi's future. He previously held the position from 2003 through 2010, the period when the Argentine superstar began to emerge as one of the best players in history.

"I am sure that if someone else wins the election [other than me], Messi won't stay at the club," Laporta said during a debate before last year's election. "I have a good relationship with him; there's a lot of respect."

His return to the presidential post wasn't enough to secure Messi's future at Camp Nou, but he told ESPN on Sunday there's still hope for a storybook ending.

"I would hope that the Messi chapter isn't over," Laporta said. "I think it's our responsibility to try to ... find a moment to fix that chapter, which is still open and hasn't closed, so it turns out like it should have, and that it has a more beautiful ending."

The 35-year-old playmaker didn't quite live up to his usual standard in his first season with PSG—his 11 goals across all competitions marked his lowest total since 2005-06—but he still compiled a productive six goals and 14 assists in 26 Ligue 1 appearances.

He'll once again help headline one of the world's most star-studded attacks this season alongside Neymar and Kylian Mbappe for the Parisians.

It sounds like Barcelona will be heavily involved if Messi decides to decline the option in his Paris Saint-Germain contract next summer, though.

Albert Masnou of Diario Sport reported on Sunday that Xavi, Messi's former Barca teammate, has asked Laporta to sign the forward back in 2023 under the belief his return would "bring a lot to the club both on an economic level and a sporting one."

All told, whether the potential return happens next summer or a little further down the line, it would be a surprise if Messi's swan song doesn't take place with Barca.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta hopes that Lionel Messi's story with his former club hasn't completely concluded.

"Messi was everything," Laporta told ESPN. "To Barca, he's been possibly its greatest player, the most efficient. To me he's only comparable to Johan Cruyff. But it had to happen one day. We had to make a decision as a consequence of what we inherited. The institution is in charge of players, coaches.

"I would hope that the Messi chapter isn't over. I think it's our responsibility to try to ... find a moment to fix that chapter, which is still open and hasn't closed, so it turns out like it should have, and that it has a more beautiful ending."

Barcelona's financial woes ahead of last season meant that the club could no longer afford Messi's wages, and he joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer after spending the first 17 years of his professional career with the Catalan giant.

That transition wasn't seamless for either side. Messi had six goals and 15 assists in 26 total Ligue 1 appearances, pedestrian stats for the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner, while Barcelona finished trophyless, failed to reach the knockout stage of the Champions League and finished second in La Liga behind rivals Real Madrid.

It seemed clear that Messi never wanted to leave the only European club he had ever known, as he was emotional during the press conference announcing his departure last summer.

Pic of the year.
End of an era.
Historical day.

Lionel Andrés Messi pic.twitter.com/5zwQAKnwOH

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 8, 2021

"As president of Barca, I did what I had to do," Laporta told ESPN. "But also as president of Barca, and on a personal level, I think I owe him."

What exactly that means is unclear. Barça has already made several splashy signings this summer in attacking positions, including superstar striker Robert Lewandowski and promising winger Raphinia, so it seems highly unlikely that the club would make a move for Messi this summer.

But the Argentine superstar has just one more year remaining on his PSG contract (with an option for an additional year as well), so perhaps a reunion in the future isn't out of the question.

There has been speculation that Messi could join the MLS' Inter Miami after his PSG contract runs up, perhaps even becoming a minority owner in the process. But a Barcelona reunion would be the storybook ending Laporta, at least, seems to be hoping is still in the cards.

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique and music superstar Shakira announced Saturday the end of their 11-year relationship.

The former couple, who met in 2010 and began dating a year later, have two children together, sons Milan and Sasha.

"We regret to confirm that we are parting ways," they said in a joint statement to E! News. "For the well-being of our children, who are our highest priority, we ask that you respect their privacy. Thank you for your understanding."

They met when Pique appeared in a music video for Shakira's track "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)," which was used as the official song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

The superstar center back, who played a key role in the Spain national team's golden era, helped La Roja capture the 2010 World Cup title.

Also Saturday, Shakira addressed rumors about her health after she was recently seen in an ambulance, saying she was accompanying her father after he'd suffered injuries in a fall:

pic.twitter.com/QLMtUuiJEd

— Shakira (@shakira) June 4, 2022

Pique, a Barcelona native, emerged as a promising prospect at Barca's famed La Masia youth academy before starting his professional career at Manchester United in 2004.

He returned to the Blaugrana in 2008 and has spent the past 14 years at the Camp Nou while establishing himself as one of the best defenders of the generation.

Now 35, he faced speculation about retirement early in the 2021-22 season but told Barca TV+ in March (via Abdi Rashid of the Daily Mail) he plans to continue playing.

"For me, it has been a dream this journey, and I hope to keep it going as long as I can—keep playing and keep helping the club," Pique said. "I hope this journey does not end yet; I want it to go on a bit more. I am very proud."

Pique retired from international football in 2018, but there have been rumors he could return to the Spain squad ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which kicks off in November.

Aston Villa announced Friday it has agreed to acquire midfielder Philippe Coutinho on loan from Barcelona for the remainder of the 2021-22 season.

"The agreement, which is subject to the player completing a medical and receiving a work permit, also includes an option to buy, and Philippe will travel to Birmingham in the next 48 hours," the club wrote in a statement.

Coutinho joined Barca in January 2018 from Liverpool in a $192 million transfer and previously spent the 2019-20 term on loan at Bayern Munich.

The 29-year-old Brazilian international fell out of favor at Camp Nou with 11 of his 16 appearances this season coming as a substitute. He'd drawn just one start since new manager Xavi, a club legend, took over in early November after the firing of Ronald Koeman.

ESPN's Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens reported five Premier League clubs reached out to Barcelona about the former Liverpool star, and it was the presence of his previous Reds teammate Steven Gerrard as the Villa head coach that shifted the race in Villa's favor.

His desire to earn a spot on Brazil's 2022 FIFA Men's World Cup roster also played a role in his desire to leave Barca for more consistent playing time, per Marsden and Llorens.

Coutinho, who started his career in European football at Inter Milan in 2008, enjoyed a strong campaign on loan at Bayern two years ago. He recorded 11 goals and nine assists across 34 appearances between the Bundesliga and the UEFA Champions League.

He played just 14 matches upon his return to Barcelona last term before suffering a season-ending knee injury, and he wasn't able to regain his place in the starting XI to open the current campaign.

Coutinho tested positive for COVID-19 on Dec. 30, but Villa's statement suggested his arrival to the club won't be delayed significantly.

Once back up to full speed, he should take on a key role in Villa's attack as they look to remain comfortably clear of the relegation fight.

They own a 7-1-11 record (22 points), which puts them 11 points clear of the bottom three heading into the season's second half and 12 points back of West Ham United for a spot in the Europa League next season, though a run up the table would require jumping over several clubs.

Villa's next two matches are both against Manchester United, first in the FA Cup on Monday and then in Premier League play on Jan. 15. There was no indication in Villa's announcement of whether Coutinho will be cleared to play in either of those fixtures or if his debut will have to wait a little longer.

An emotional Sergio Aguero announced his retirement Wednesday because of a heart condition that's kept him on the sideline since October.

The 33-year-old striker signed with Barcelona ahead of the 2021-22 season but ended up making just five appearances with the club. He previously starred for Manchester City, Atletico Madrid and Independiente along with Argentina's national team.

This conference is to announce I have decided to stop playing professional football. It is a very difficult moment. The decision I have taken for my health; the problem I had a month and a half ago.

I have been in good hands with the medical staff. I made the decision 10 days ago after doing everything possible to have some hope of playing on. I am very proud for my career. I always dreamed of a professional career since the first time I touched a ball at five.

I want to thank Atletico Madrid who took a chance on me when I was 18 and Manchester City, everyone knows how I feel about City and how well they treated me there.

🥺 pic.twitter.com/QA9sXkgydS

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 15, 2021

Aguero, nicknamed "Kun" since childhood after a Japanese cartoon character, is Manchester City's all-time leading scorer with 260 goals across all competitions. That's 83 more than any other player to wear a Citizens kit (Eric Brook, 177).

King Kun.

Everyone at Manchester City would like to take this opportunity to thank @aguerosergiokun for his incredible contribution to our success over the last decade and wish him well in his retirement 💙 pic.twitter.com/AgMWXZtPZ8

— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 15, 2021

His most memorable goal came in City's final match of the 2011-12 campaign, when he scored a 94th-minute winner against QPR to seal the Premier League title.

Thank you, Sergio 💙#ManCity pic.twitter.com/idj2Rf8RxL

— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 15, 2021

The Buenos Aires native joined Independiente's youth program at the age of nine. He made his professional debut for the Argentine club in 2003 at the age of 15.

After four seasons with El Rojo, he moved to La Liga with Atletico Madrid in 2016. He tallied 102 goals across 234 appearances for the Colchoneros.

Aguero then began his decorated 10-year run with City in 2011. He was named the club's player of the year twice and won the Premier League's Golden Boot Award with 26 goals in 2014-15. He also helped the club win five EPL championships.

The dynamic forward also shined at the international level with 41 goals in 101 matches for Argentina. He was part of national teams that won the 2021 Copa America title and reached the 2014 FIFA World Cup final.

Aguero remembered some of his favorite goals during Wednesday's press conference:

The goal for Independiente against Racing when I was 17 was one of the best that I ever scored. Winning the Europa League with Atletico was a really happy moment, and then obviously with City the goal I scored to win the first Premier League, for me and City, was a beautiful moment.

There are a lot, and the last was the Copa America. I only played two or three matches, but it was something that we had been looking for for years and years.

And of course, I will take my last goal against Madrid. It is not bad for a last goal, is it?

In all, Aguero scored 427 goals between his club and international careers.