FC Barcelona

Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has said he planned on leaving the club during the January transfer window, and he isn't happy with how he's been treated.

The Croat spoke to the press after the 2-1 win over Levante, per Sport:

"I've been through some bad times, but it's now in the past. I can say very clearly that things have happened that I have not liked. I have not deserved some of the behaviour (towards me).

"You (the media) also know how things are, but it's not the moment to open this issue again, but of course I have planned to leave because it's been a complicated time.

"Now I want to turn the page and work hard to help the team in the decisive moment of the season."

Per Goal, he also said he wants the fans and his team-mates to count on him now that the transfer window has closed.

The former Sevilla man was linked with a return to Andalusia before the January window opened, although sporting director Monchi said it would be difficult to get a deal over the line, per Canal Sur Radio (h/t Football Espana's Collin Millar).

There were also rumours of a possible swap deal for Juventus' Federico Bernardeschi:

Negotiations ongoing between Juventus & Barcelona about a possible Ivan Rakitić - Federico Bernardeschi swap deal, according to @DiMarzio.

— Get Italian Football News (@_GIFN) January 20, 2020

The 31-year-old ended up staying at the Camp Nou and started in Sunday's win over Levante. Ansu Fati scored both goals for the Catalans:

Rakitic has started eight La Liga matches so far this season, finding himself behind Frenkie de Jong, Sergio Busquets and Arthur in the pecking order. Arturo Vidal has often been the first midfielder off the bench as well.

He joined Barcelona in 2014 and has played more than 2,000 minutes in every La Liga season since, but he seems unlikely to get to that mark in the 2019-20 campaign.

A summer move appears likely, given the players ahead of him and the young talent pushing for a bigger role in the future. Riqui Puig has played his first La Liga minutes of the season since Quique Setien became manager, and Carles Alena has flashed his potential on loan at Real Betis.

Rakitic's contract runs until the summer of 2021, so if the Catalans want a decent return for the Croat, a summer transfer would be their best bet.  

Barcelona youngster Ansu Fati is still having trouble believing he's a first-team player at the Camp Nou.

The teenager, who turned 17 in October, made his 19th appearance for Barcelona on Sunday and scored both goals as they beat Levante 2-1, courtesy of two Lionel Messi assists.

He told Movistar (h/t Goal's Dejan Kalinic) after the game:

"I still have doubts about whether all this is real or not. I've been watching [Messi] play for many years, and now I play with him, it's a dream.

"This is a dream. I have always dreamed of this moment. I have to thank my team-mates and the coach for giving me the opportunity."

Manager Quique Setien praised the youngster's "great potential," and added: "You have to understand that you have to give him peace of mind and confidence to exploit what he has inside."

Fati fired home in the 30th minute after Messi carved open Levante's defence with a through ball.

Less than two minutes later he found the net again with a driving shot between goalkeeper Aitor Fernandez's legs after Messi had picked him out in the box:

💎 @ANSUFATI became the youngest player to score a brace in #LaLigaHistory tonight! ✌

He was the matchwinner in #BarçaLevante... 📺 pic.twitter.com/FjSZtmaKSb

— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) February 2, 2020

He set a new record at Barca in the process:

1 - @FCBarcelona_es' Ansu Fati (17 years and 94 days) has become the youngest player to score a brace in @LaLigaEN in the 21st century, breaking the record previously held by Juanmi Jiménez against Real Zaragoza in September 2010 (17y 115d). Spectacular. pic.twitter.com/mBtK6ygr9C

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) February 2, 2020

Fati burst on to the scene in August with a goal against Osasuna in his second senior appearance for the Blaugrana.

He followed that up with a goal and an assist against Valencia in their following game, and he also netted a dramatic late winner as Barca beat Inter Milan 2-1 in their final UEFA Champions League group match in December.

Football journalist Rik Sharma suggested he has not contributed much outside of those games, though, until the Levante brace:

On Ansu, his last good performance (bar Inter cameo) was back in Sep, started three in a row for Setien with no impact so these goals very welcome for him

— Rik Sharma (@riksharma_) February 2, 2020

Football writer Zach Lowy is a keen admirer of Fati's, however:

Ansu Fati putting two goals through the legs of one of the best goalkeepers, if not the best, in La Liga this season.

Obviously having Messi alongside him helps a ton, but not every 17-year-old has that kind of finishing ability in his portfolio. This kid is going to be special.

— Zach Lowy (@ZachLowy) February 2, 2020

Given his age and inexperience, inconsistency is to be expected at this early stage in his development.

The first-team experience he has accrued in this campaign⁠—he's played 853 minutes so far⁠—will be invaluable, though.

Hamstring injuries have limited Ousmane Dembele to just nine appearances for Barca this season, giving Fati the opportunity to play as much as he has.

The Frenchman is set to return to action in February, and he'll likely take Fati's place on the left when he does, but the youngster has shown he can be a useful option should the winger suffer any more fitness issues.

Barcelona eased to a 2-1 win at home to Levante on Sunday to cut Real Madrid's lead in La Liga back to three points.  

Ansu Fati broke the deadlock after 30 minutes before netting again shortly after, with both goals assisted by Lionel Messi.

Levante pulled one back in injury time through Ruben Rochina after a fine second-half performance, but it was too late for them to complete their comeback.

Barcelona have now won all 14 of their league meetings with Levante at the Camp Nou, while the Granotas have now lost four league games in a row.

The hosts quickly set about dominating possession, and they had their first sight of goal in the 13th minute when Messi fired just wide.

Soon after he forced a save from Aitor Fernandez after a mazy run, and Antoine Griezmann should have at least hit the target when he was sent through by Jordi Alba.

Barca began to turn the screw even further with Messi once again being denied by Fernandez, after Gonzalo Melero had almost turned the ball into his own net from a corner.

Their pressure finally told when Messi picked out Fati with a defence-splitting pass and the 17-year-old showed impressive composure to slot home:

🔥 A quickfire double from Ansu Fati!

🔵🔴 The 17-year-old has Barca 2-0 up and in complete control

🤤 What a pass from Messi to set the first goal up too! pic.twitter.com/jrbf7dbUmX

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) February 2, 2020

It was 2-0 immediately after when Messi fed Fati on the left and the teenager fired a low finish between Fernandez's legs.

Barca almost added a third before the break when Nelson Semedo cut inside and crashed an effort off the bar, while Griezmann will be wondering how he contrived to miss from close range when he met a cross from Semedo at the near post.

Squawka's Muhammad Butt enjoyed Barcelona's performance:

like I was saying. the difference in performance is ENORMOUS. https://t.co/uG5VMwjIMJ

— Muhammad Butt (@muhammadbutt) February 2, 2020

The Blaugrana continued their hunt for goals after the break, and Messi had an effort cleared off the line by Sergio Postigo.

Levante created chances throughout the half, though. Rochina blasted a rebound over after Marc-Andre ter Stegen had kept out Jose Luis Morales, and the goalkeeper was also on hand to stop Melero when he connected with a Morales cross.

Ter Stegen came to the rescue again to tip over a shot from substitute Hernani:

Speaking of Ter Stegen... 🕸️#BarçaLevante pic.twitter.com/TQ1EreB2vq

— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) February 2, 2020

The German did not manage to keep a clean sheet, however, when Rochina's late 20-yard effort beat him courtesy of a deflection off Hernani.

               

What's Next

Barca travel to Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey on Thursday before facing Real Betis in La Liga next Sunday. Levante host Leganes a day earlier.

                     

Barcelona manager Quique Setien has said he hopes his influence can contribute to Lionel Messi staying at the club for many years.

Setien was appointed in January, with the Blaugrana deciding to move on from former boss Ernesto Valverde.

So far, it's been a mixed start to life at the club for Setien; he's earned three wins, including two in the Copa del Rey, but suffered a disappointing loss away to Valencia in their previous league match.

In three appearances under the new manager, Messi has scored three goals. Ahead of his team's trip to Levante on Sunday, Setien said he hopes he can create an environment in which the forward wants to remain for a while yet, per Sport:

"I hope we can make him so happy that he's desperate to stay. But he will be here in the future anyway, I have no doubts about that.

" ... You can tell he's a winner and that he wants things done well. He's interested in the team talks. He knows he's an important player, that he can solve many games, but we have to focus on the team to be stronger."

Messi was on target twice on Thursday, with Barcelona turning on the style to overcome Leganes 5-0 in the Copa del Rey:

Despite the team's loss to Valencia last weekend, Messi was still able to have an influence on the game, with the overwhelming majority of the team's efforts at goal coming from the No. 10:

Lionel Messi had 11 shots against Valencia today; more than every other Barcelona player combined (3).

Unable to break through Valencia. pic.twitter.com/64yQaqk6Lr

— Squawka (@Squawka) January 25, 2020

One of Setien's tasks during his time at Barcelona will be to make the team less dependant on Messi. With that in mind, he will be encouraged by the form of Antoine Griezmann, who has performed well following the injury layoff to Luis Suarez.

Setien will also want to be the manager who finally brings a consistency out of Ousmane Dembele in terms of form and fitness. The coach has said he's been moved by the efforts of the Frenchman to get fit in training recently.

"With Dembele, we have not yet spoken," he told Sport (h/t Goal). "Like most, he has things he can improve on. You have to keep in mind that they are still young kids. Their dedication, from what I have seen, is total and absolute. I have tears when I see the capacity and intensity in which he works."

Per Rafael Hernandez of the Grup 14 fansite, Barcelona supporters are hopeful that Setien can improve Dembele:

Setien’s impact is so big that the fans are looking forward to Dembélé and even Coutinho to return. Unreasonable for sure, but it doesn’t hurt to be optimistic when a competent man with good intentions is in charge.

— Rafael Hernández (@RafaelH117) January 19, 2020

Barcelona's loss to Valencia means they are now playing catch up to Real Madrid in the La Liga title race. If Los Blancos beat their local rivals Atletico Madrid on Saturday, then the Blaugrana will kick off Sunday's game six points behind.

Setien will be keen to keep Barcelona in contention for the top-flight prize. However, supporters will be encouraged to hear that he has the long-term future of the club in mind, too.  

Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti has said the club will not sell star forward Richarlison in the summer amid recent links to Barcelona.

Before the end of the January transfer window, reports emerged that the Toffees had rejected an £85 million bid for the Brazil international.

At his press conference ahead of Everton's clash with Watford in the Premier League on Saturday, Ancelotti was asked about the rumoured interest in the 22-year-old and made it clear the club is not looking to sell their key man, per Andy Hunter of the Guardian:

"I don't think it will be difficult to resist because it is enough to say no. There is no possibility because Richarlison is an important part of the future of Everton like the other young players we have—[Jordan] Pickford, [Mason] Holgate, [Moise] Kean, [Michael] Keane, [Dominic] Calvert-Lewin.

" ... Everything can happen in football. If an offer arrives that you cannot refuse, and it is an offer that can improve the squad, then why not? But, now, I can say Richarlison is an important part. With Barcelona you can do an exchange, no? [Laughs.] They have a lot of fantastic players, but I'm not nominating anyone"

Richarlison has missed Everton's last two games because of injury, and the team have been held to disappointing draws against West Ham United and Newcastle United. The Brazilian is scheduled to return to the starting XI for the clash with his former club on Saturday.

B/R Football's Sam Tighe believes that if Everton had been in receipt of £85 million bid for Richarlison, they should have taken it:

You can’t be bidding £85m for Richarlison

You can’t be rejecting £85m bids for Richarlison

— Sam Tighe (@stighefootball) January 29, 2020

Patrick Boyland of The Athletic said he understands why the Merseyside club would knock back any bids for the player:

Some piping hot takes on Richarlison by the way. Full Brazil international with four years left on his deal. Already into double figures this season. Young, versatile and will get even better.

How much is a player like worth in current market? #EFC

— Patrick Boyland (@Paddy_Boyland) January 29, 2020

Since moving to Everton in the summer of 2018, Richarlison has made major strides at Goodison Park.

His dribbling skill, finishing ability and work rate has made him a crucial part of the side, while he's also been able to establish himself as a regular in the Brazil team. Richarlison netted for his country in the final of the Copa America in the summer.

Given his age, ability and versatility in operating centrally or on either wing, it's no surprise that Barcelona are being mentioned as possible suitors.

Per OptaJoe, there aren't many players in Richarlison's age bracket as productive as he is at the highest level:

21 - Of players currently aged 22 or younger, only Kylian Mbappé (45) and Jadon Sancho (23) have scored more non-penalty goals than Richarlison (21) in Europe's top five leagues since the start of last season. Coveted. pic.twitter.com/e51WWoutCx

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 29, 2020

Barcelona would benefit from adding another forward in the summer. While Lionel Messi is still inspired and Antoine Griezmann is settling in to life at the club, Luis Suarez is sidelined with an injury and is now 33 years old.

Ancelotti appears adamant that the club want to keep Richarlison for many campaigns yet, and in December, the forward committed to a new long-term deal at Goodison Park. However, if Barcelona are serious about signing him come the end of the campaign, then the player will obviously be tempted to move on.

Barcelona announced two signings for the future on Friday, securing the services of Braga starlet Trincao and Palmeira's Matheus Fernandes.

Trincao cost the club €31 million, while Fernandes was acquired for €7 million, with €3 million in add-ons. Both will join the Blaugrana in July.

Of the two, Trincao is the more high-profile player. He made his senior debut in 2018 and has been regarded as one of the top talents in Portugal since.

The left-footed winger is comfortable on either flank and stands out for his composure, vision and dribbling ability. He's a cool finisher with solid athleticism, and he's also a capable set-piece taker with plenty of room for growth.

His vast potential is reflected in the transfer fee and the fact Barcelona set his buyout clause at an enormous €500 million. Such clauses are mandatory in La Liga, but it's unlikely any club will trigger it anytime soon.

Fernandes is one year older and already has a ton of senior appearances under his belt, making his Botafogo debut back in 2016. He joined Palmeiras in 2019 and impressed enough to earn his move to Europe after just 11 matches.

A defensive specialist with great passing range, he's at his best as a holding midfielder who sees plenty of the ball. He shares some similarities with current Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong, although he's much less refined than the Dutchman.

Both players will have the chance to continue their development away from the Camp Nou until summer, and it would not be a surprise if one or both of them spend the 2020-21 season away on loan as well. Barcelona didn't sign these youngsters to become immediate contributors, but with an eye on the future.

Barcelona boss Quique Setien has backed Ousmane Dembele to make up for the club's failure to bring in a striker in January when he returns from injury. 

The club will be without Luis Suarez until May after he had knee surgery, but Dembele returned to training this week having been absent since November with a hamstring injury.

Per Goal's Tom Webber, Setien said:

"I will be calm. There is a risk of injury, and it cannot be controlled. I am used to working with what I have.

"It was not to be. The market did not give us anything, but we will also recover Dembele.

"He is a player who has specific attributes, and I think he can give us a lot. He feels comfortable out wide, and we will try to take advantage of that.

"I'm sure he will give us a lot with the potential he has and will demonstrate the great player he is. Dembele is going to be amazing."

Per ESPN's Samuel Marsden, Barcelona director Guillermo Amor confirmed on Thursday the club would not be bringing in a short-term replacement for Suarez before the window shuts on Friday.

Now 33, Suarez has some mobility issues and isn't quite the force he once was, but he remains an incredibly productive player for Barca in the final third. He had returned 14 goals and 11 assists in just 23 appearances this season, so his absence for the second half of the campaign is a significant blow.

Setien will be looking to Antoine Griezmann and Dembele to share the attacking and creative burden with Lionel Messi, and the latter's return to the side will enable the former to play through the middle in Suarez's place.

Griezmann hasn't scored in Barca's first three La Liga matches of 2020, but he found the net against former side Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final and bagged a brace against Ibiza in the Copa del Rey third round.

On Thursday, he opened the scoring in a 5-0 win over Leganes in the Copa del Rey last 16 to take his tally for the season to 12 goals:

Dembele will add even more pace in the final third alongside Griezmann and Messi.

Although Barca will have been hoping for more when they invested an initial €105 million (£88 million) in him in 2017, he can make incisive contributions, too, having offered 19 goals and 17 assists in his 74 appearances.

However, relying on him has proved difficult during his time at the Camp Nou because of injuries.

His hamstring issues this season have limited him to just nine appearances, and he's missed a total of 62 matches through injury in his short Barcelona career, so staying fit for the remainder of the campaign will be a challenge for him when he returns.

Barcelona have dismissed speculation they could recall Philippe Coutinho from Bayern Munich before the end of the season. 

The Brazilian is on a season-long loan at the Allianz Arena, and Bayern have the option to make his stay permanent for £102 million.

Per Goal's Chris Burton, a Barcelona spokesperson said: "As agreed, the player stays in Munich for at least the rest of the season. Everything else is made up."

Catalunya Radio Barcelona (h/t MailOnline's Ben Nagle) reported the club could lower the price of the option to buy to convince Bayern to sign him, so that they might fund a replacement for the injured Luis Suarez before the January transfer window closes.

Suarez underwent knee surgery earlier in January, and the club expect him to be out for around four months.

Barca signed Coutinho from Liverpool in January 2018 for an initial £105 million. He made 76 appearances for the Catalan giants, scoring 21 goals and providing 11 assists, but he failed to replicate the impact he had at Anfield.

He has rediscovered his form at Bayern, where he has contributed seven goals and eight assists in 24 games.

Coutinho's best performance came in Bayern's 6-1 win over Werder Bremen in December, in which he netted a hat-trick and set up Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller:

Football journalist Chris Williams said he has "impressed many, many times" in Germany, even in games in which he has not scored or assisted, such as Bayern's 4-0 win over Hertha Berlin on January 19.

Barca would likely welcome the chance to let him go if they can recoup roughly what they paid for him, but with Quique Setien now in the dugout instead of Ernesto Valverde, he may yet have a future at the Camp Nou when he returns at the end of the season.

In the meantime, a replacement for Suarez would be a useful acquisition, as the striker racked up 14 goals and 11 assists before his surgery.

Barcelona manager Quique Setien has said he has been assured by club president Josep Maria Bartomeu he will be given time at the Camp Nou.

The 61-year-old succeeded Ernesto Valverde in the top job at Barca earlier in January. In his first three games in charge, the Blaugrana have beaten Granada 1-0 at home, struggled to a 2-1 Copa del Rey victory over third-tier Ibiza and lost 2-0 to Valencia.

The defeat against Los Che meant Barca surrendered top spot in La Liga to Real Madrid for the first time since October. They trail Los Blancos by three points.

Despite his tough start, Setien said he has been reassured by Bartomeu he will have time to make his methods work, per Ivan San Antonio of Marca:

"It's true he spoke to me, he put a lot of confidence in me and told me that he would give me time. I don't know a lot of people by name yet, there's lots of things I don't know about a club of this size. He told me to take my time and work with my ideas.

"Truthfully, I don't usually get worn down by looking at them saying good or bad things about me. I know what I have to worry about, don't take it badly but I don't read or listen to anything. I'm focused on doing my job as well as possible."

Despite what Bartomeu may have said, Barca's fans are unlikely to be too patient with Setien if he allows Real to take a stranglehold on the title race. The Catalan giants are back in action in the Copa del Rey against Leganes on Thursday before they host Levante in La Liga on Sunday.

Barca lost 3-1 to Levante in November, and they will view Sunday's match as an opportunity to take more points off the Blaugrana given the champions are under pressure.

Having taken over in midseason, Setien was never likely to have an easy start, but he already has a must-win game on his hands because Barcelona cannot afford to lose any more ground to Real. 

Zinedine Zidane's side may not be playing the best football, but they look relentless. Their only league defeat this term was against Mallorca in October.

The second Clasico of the season is set to take place at the Santiago Bernabeu on March 1.

It could be crucial in deciding the destination of the title, but only if Setien can get Barca back to winning ways. Otherwise Real could open up a substantial gap.

Barcelona manager Quique Setien said on Wednesday it "would be interesting" if the club brought in a new player before the transfer window closes on Friday and also spoke about Carles Perez's departure.

The Spanish champions have been linked with a move for a striker in the January window to cover for Luis Suarez, who is out for four months with injury. Setien said new players are welcome at the Camp Nou.

He also told reporters that he will not be too disappointed if the club fail to add to their squad:

"I am delighted with what I have. [But] we can't deny that it would be interesting if another player could arrive. I depend on those who I have, and whoever may arrive is also welcome. If that doesn't happen, I will be delighted with what I have. I come from the farm and I have gotten used to working with what I have. If a No.9 comes, he'll be welcome. This team is ready to compete in all fronts."

Barcelona had targeted a move for Valencia striker Rodrigo but have seen a move break down as the two clubs were unable to agree a price, according to journalist Paco Polit.

The Catalan giants have precious little time left to add to their squad and also have a "lack of finances," which means they are unable to afford players such as Lautaro Martinez, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Timo Werner, according to Sport's Toni Juanmarti.

Setien's side may therefore target cheaper options such as Olivier Giroud, Carlos Vela, Loren Moron, Dries Mertens and Krzysztof Piatek, per Juanmarti.

Real Betis forward Moron has also been linked to Barca by Goal's Ignasi Oliva Gispert. He knows Setien well from his time at the Benito Villamarin Stadium and is valued at €30 million.

Barcelona's attacking options are set to be further reduced in January by the departure of 21-year-old winger Carles Perez to Roma.

Perez is a promising forward who has made 12 appearances for Barca this season, contributing two goals and three assists.

However, he has agreed a move to Roma on a permanent €13 million deal which will not include a buyback option, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Setien said it was a "mutual decision" for Perez to leave the Camp Nou. Onda Cero (h/t Marca) previously reported Setien told Perez to look for a new club shortly after replacing Ernesto Valverde as manager.