Ansu Fati, Barcelona Agree to 2-Year Contract Extension, Raised Buyout Clause
Dec 4, 2019
BARCELONA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 14: Ansu Fati of Barcelona in action during the Liga match between FC Barcelona and Valencia CF at Camp Nou on September 14, 2019 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Barcelona prodigy Ansu Fati has signed a new two-year contract with the club, which will keep him at the Camp Nou until at least the summer of 2022.
The 17-year-old has exploded into Ernesto Valverde's first-team plans this season, and Barcelona confirmed their latest star agreed new terms on Wednesday, via the club's official website.
A statement from Spanish champions read: "FC Barcelona and Ansu Fati have reached an agreement to improve the player's contract through to 30 June 2022, extendable by two further seasons, and his buyout clause has been raised from 100 to 170 million euros."
The teenager's buyout clause will rise further to €400 million ($443 million) if he signs a professional contract and becomes a permanent member of the first-team squad.
Fati offered his thoughts after committing his future to the club:
"For me, La Masia is the best school in the world. They helped me from the first day I arrived and I am extremely grateful to everyone who works there. They are all spectacular. From the first day I have learned things from everyone. And they have also been there to support me through difficult times."
"Working every day with the best is a dream, and also a reward. From now onwards, what I have to do is keep working, even harder than ever, to keep getting chances and carryon on enjoying myself. The rest will come after."
The Barca academy graduate has endured a meteoric rise this season after being thrust into first-team action at the start of the campaign due to injuries in attack.
Fati came on to score his first professional goal in a 2-2 draw at Osasuna in August. He followed up with another strike on his full debut when the Blaugrana defeated Valencia 5-2 in the following game:
Aside from adjusting the guaranteed length of his contract, the new deal will see Fati's earnings increase substantially.
Club de la Mitjanit (h/t AS) previously reported his salary would depend on his status in the team: €300,000 (£266,500) per year if he's in Barca's B team, or €1 million (£888,000) if he stays in the first team.
ESPN FC highlighted why it's easy to envision the player bedding himself in among Valverde's first-team ranks:
Ansu Fati needed 3 La Liga games to score his first 2 goals.
Barcelona's decision to hand Fati a new contract—considering there was no immediate threat of the player leaving the club—hints at the importance they've placed on his future being with them.
The starlet may get his next opportunity to demonstrate his talents when Barca face Real Mallorca in La Liga on Saturday.
PARIS, FRANCE - DECEMBER 02: Lionel Messi (ARG / FC Barcelona) excepts his sixth Ballon D'Or award during the Ballon D'Or Ceremony at Theatre Du Chatelet on December 02, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)
Lionel Messi has said he was not happy when Cristiano Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or for the fifth time in 2017 and tied the Argentinian's all-time record.
Messi won the prestigious award for a sixth time on Monday at a ceremony in Paris to set yet another new benchmark:
Lionel Messi becomes the first player in footballing history to win the Ballon D'Or 6 times (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019).
The superlative Argentina international had been stuck on a five awards for a while, though.
After winning his fifth in 2015, he was two clear of Ronaldo, Marco van Basten, Johan Cruyff and Michel Platini at the top of the all-time standings.
But then the Portuguese forward won back-to-back Ballons d'Or in 2016 and 2017 to join Messi, before Luka Modric broke the duo's decade-long duopoly of the award last year:
After edging his nose in front of Ronaldo again with his sixth Ballon d'Or, Messi said there was little he could do at the time about the former Real Madrid and Manchester United man making up the ground, per France Football (h/t Marca):
"When Cristiano Ronaldo pulled level with me, I'll admit that it hurt a little as I was no longer alone at the top. But, at that moment he deserved the Ballon d'Or and I couldn't do much more about it.
"I understand why I didn't win, as we hadn't won the UEFA Champions League and winning that competition gives you a better chance of winning the Ballon d'Or.
"When Cristiano Ronaldo was winning all the [individual] trophies it was because he'd had really good seasons and had been winning the Champions League, being decisive as his team did so."
Messi's main rival for the 2019 Ballon d'Or was Virgil van Dijk, who played a key role in Liverpool coming second in the Premier League as well as their Champions League victory in 2018-19.
Though there were plenty who felt the Dutchman deserved the gong, it was difficult for most to begrudge the 32-year-old the honour given the sheer weight of his contributions in 2019:
Lionel Messi has been spell bindingly brilliant. Cristiano is my personal favourite - but neither did enough last season to be anywhere near the Ballon D’Or. Virgil van Dijk was sensational at Liverpool & won the CL. So how come he didn’t win last night? 🤷♂️
A boring opinion nobody wants or asked for: Virgil van Dijk made an extraordinary difference to his team in 2019, but Lionel Messi was the better player in the year. Because he's been the best player in pretty much every year of the last decade.
Hard to argue with Messi of course but would have been nice to see a Liverpool player win the Ballon d'Or given the year they have had... #BallonDor2019
Messi wins his 6th Ballon d’Or. His numbers this year are once again truly extraordinary. He’s head and shoulders the best player in world football. He plays a game that is both joyous and incomprehensible to mere mortals. The award is totally meritorious. 👏🏻👏🏻
Messi scored 36 goals and provided 13 assists in 34 appearances to propel Barca to the La Liga title in 2018-19, and he has netted nine in nine appearances so far this term.
On receiving his latest award, Messi acknowledged that now he is into his 30s, the "moment of withdrawal is approaching."
The same is true for Ronaldo, who is 34.
It is possible that, after winning the Ballon d'Or in 11 of the last 12 years, neither may ever win it again.
If that does prove to be the case, Messi will forever have one over on his rival in the record books.
Pep Guardiola's Father Says Manchester City Coach Could Return to Barcelona
Dec 4, 2019
Pep Guardiola's father, Valenti Guardiola, has suggested his son might one day return to Barcelona for a second coaching spell.
Guardiola Sr. said as much while accepting an award on the Manchester City boss' behalf on Tuesday.
Per Marca, he said: "It could be a yes, that he returns to Barcelona, but it would be to coach. Since he left home, he has always made his own decisions. I've never advised him."
The 48-year-old was named coach of the year by the Catalan FA but could not collect the award himself as City played Burnley on Tuesday evening, winning 4-1 at Turf Moor.
Guardiola spent the bulk of his playing days at the Camp Nou, where he won six La Liga titles, two Copas del Rey and the European Cup, among other honours.
When he retired, he became coach of Barcelona B in 2007. The following year he took charge of the first team, and in four seasons he guided them to a great deal of silverware, including three La Liga titles, two UEFA Champions Leagues and two Copas del Rey.
The manager recently discussed how coming through the ranks at Barca's La Masia academy shaped his approach to the game:
His use of tiki-taka football with the likes of Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez and Lionel Messi in their primes made Barcelona one of the most attractive and imperious teams in European football in that era.
ESPN FC's Andrew Cesare and Bleacher Report's Alex McGovern discussed his impact on Twitter:
And even beside that Pep’s changed football more than anyone in the modern era
Given his age, Guardiola could easily manage for another two decades or more, so it would be of little surprise if he did revisit his boyhood club in that time.
Barca have continued to enjoy success since his departure in 2012, winning five more domestic titles, four more Copas and another Champions League, but Messi, Sergio Busquets and Gerard Pique are the only players remaining from Guardiola's era and they're in need of a rebuild.
Guardiola may have been a little fortunate to have an incredible generation of talent come through the academy at the right time for him during his first spell in charge.
However, his experience of transforming a slightly underperforming Barca side—they had finished second and third in the two seasons before he took over—into a European powerhouse is exactly what they could do with again in the coming years.
Lionel Messi Talks Future, Says Love for Barcelona 'Goes Beyond Any Signature'
Dec 3, 2019
PARIS, FRANCE - DECEMBER 02: Lionel Messi (ARG / FC Barcelona) poses onstage with after winning his sixth Ballon D'Or award during the Ballon D'Or Ceremony at Theatre Du Chatelet on December 02, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)
Lionel Messi eased concerns over his Barcelona future on Monday after he won his sixth Ballon d'Or.
The Argentinian's contract at the Camp Nou expires in 2021, and Messi said of the situation: "The people at the club know me. They know there's no problem beyond what the contract says. What I feel for this club goes beyond any signature or any role. So there isn't a problem."
He also discussed retirement and suggested he has some way to go before hanging up his boots: "I'm 32 already and on my way to 33. I said a long time ago that it all depends on how I feel physically. But today I feel better than ever on a physical and personal level, so hopefully I can stretch it out a lot more."
The Spanish Football Podcast relayed further comments from him on the matter:
Messi: "I'm aware of my age and you enjoy these moments even more because the time for retirement gets closer. It's difficult. I've got a few years left, but at moments like this, it feels like time flies" https://t.co/uqEBoXF2FY
Messi's victory on Monday means he now stands alone when it comes to Ballon d'Or victories.
He had been level with longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo on five, with the pair having surpassed the previous record of three, which had been jointly held by Michel Platini, Marco van Basten and Johan Cruyff.
Ronaldo—who finished third behind Messi and Virgil van Dijk—did not attend the ceremony in Paris.
The Juventus man instead collected an award in Italy:
He did not attend FIFA's The Best awards in September, either, in which he missed out on the men's gong to Messi.
Messi did not want to make an issue of his absence, though: "He's not here because he couldn't be here. It shouldn't be twisted. We enjoyed a great gala."
Despite being 32, the forward is showing little sign of slowing down with age.
He bagged 51 goals and 22 assists for Barcelona in 50 appearances last season. In this campaign, he's found the net 11 times and set up a team-mate on eight occasions in 14 games.
Messi scored the decisive goal in Sunday's 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid:
Lionel Messi 😍
This incredible winning goal in last night's win over Atletico Madrid 🔥
That he has little more than 18 months remaining on his contract may well be a source of worry for the club and supporters alike.
It seems he's committed to remaining there, though. Given he's helped Barcelona win 10 out of a possible 15 La Liga titles since his debut for the club in 2004, keeping him at the Camp Nou is paramount.
Lionel Messi Says He 'Can Always Do More' After Winning Record 6th Ballon d'Or
Dec 3, 2019
Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi has suggested he can still improve after he collected a record sixth Ballon d'Or on Monday.
Messi saw off Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk and Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo to win the award:
He told L'Equipe (h/t Goal): "I'm happy to live this, on a personal level and also on the sporting side. I try every time to improve myself. I have the belief that I can always do more. This prize is always special, but what matters most is collective success."
The Argentinian thanked his team-mates, his family and those who voted for him, who "allowed me to have this distinction."
"A few years ago, I received my first Ballon d'Or in Paris," he added. "And it was unthinkable what I was living at the time. Now I have a sixth. It's a different moment."
Messi first won the award in 2009, and he has been a perennial contender ever since:
With Monday's victory, he moved clear of Ronaldo, who had joined him on five Ballons d'Or in 2017.
The 34-year-old never looked likely to rival Messi's claim this year, though. The Barcelona playmaker's biggest opponent was Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk.
The Dutchman was bidding to be the first defender to win the Ballon d'Or since Fabio Cannavaro picked it up in 2006. He had a strong claim, too, after playing a key role in Liverpool's UEFA Champions League win last season and the Reds ending their Premier League campaign with 97 points.
Football writer Ryan Baldi felt Messi was the right winner, though:
I don’t think so at all. Messi scored 50 goals, led a deeply flawed Barcelona to a league title and a Champions League semi and remained the best player on the planet. For Messi not to win it would be to penalise him for normalising greatness
Former Barcelona striker Gary Lineker also thought he was the correct choice:
Messi wins his 6th Ballon d’Or. His numbers this year are once again truly extraordinary. He’s head and shoulders the best player in world football. He plays a game that is both joyous and incomprehensible to mere mortals. The award is totally meritorious. 👏🏻👏🏻
The Ballon d'Or is a calendar year award and Messi, 32, has returned 46 goals and 18 assists so far in 2019 for club and country.
He hasn't scored fewer than 50 goals in a calendar year since 2013, but Barcelona have five more matches this year in which he can increase his already incredible tally.
When the Catalan giants return from their winter break on January 4, his campaign for the 2020 Ballon d'Or will begin.
Ballon d'Or 2019: Top Comments from Lionel Messi's Victory Speech
Dec 2, 2019
MADRID, SPAIN - DECEMBER 1: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona during the La Liga Santander match between Atletico Madrid v FC Barcelona at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on December 1, 2019 in Madrid Spain (Photo by Rico Brouwer/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Lionel Messi said he had achieved the "unthinkable" after winning the sixth men's Ballon d'Or of his career at a ceremony in Paris on Monday.
The Barcelona superstar edged Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk in second and Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo in third to set yet another new benchmark:
After being awarded the prestigious gong by last year's winner Luka Modric, Messi thanked his team-mates, and he also hinted that, at 32 years old, retirement is not too far in his future, per John Brewin of the Guardian:
"Thank you to my colleagues from my club. It's really amazing. Thank you so much. To the journalists and my colleagues with whom I win and lose, I remember my first Ballon d'Or in Paris, when I arrived with my brothers, now I pick up the sixth, and this was absolutely unthinkable.
"I never stopped dreaming and enjoying football like when I was a child. I hope I have more years to enjoy, although I am aware of how old I am, everything happens very quickly and I know that the moment of withdrawal is approaching."
Messi's contribution throughout 2019 has been staggering:
He may not have been able to propel Barca to another UEFA Champions League title after they suffered a humiliating 4-0 semi-final defeat to eventual champions Liverpool at Anfield, but few could begrudge the Argentinian the 2019 Ballon d'Or given his impact on Barca's La Liga title triumph:
Messi wins his 6th Ballon d’Or. His numbers this year are once again truly extraordinary. He’s head and shoulders the best player in world football. He plays a game that is both joyous and incomprehensible to mere mortals. The award is totally meritorious. 👏🏻👏🏻
Hard to argue with Messi of course but would have been nice to see a Liverpool player win the Ballon d'Or given the year they have had... #BallonDor2019
Messi's ongoing magnificence was evident once again on Sunday when he scored a sublime late winner against Atletico Madrid to put Barca back to the head of the Spanish top flight.
An injury kept him out of the start of the Blaugrana's 2019-20 campaign, but since his return he has continued his remarkable form, scoring nine goals and providing five assists in nine La Liga appearances.
Messi will have little time to celebrate his latest award as Barcelona are back in action on Saturday when they host Mallorca.
Riqui Puig Says He Is Not Considering Leaving Barcelona Amid Exit Rumours
Dec 2, 2019
BARCELONA, SPAIN - OCTOBER 27: Riqui Puig of FC Barcelona B looks on during the Liga Segunda Division B at Estadi Johan Cruyff on October 27, 2019 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Barcelona youngster Riqui Puig said on Monday he is not considering leaving Barcelona and wants to stay at the Camp Nou.
The 20-year-old has been linked with leaving the club on loan in the January transfer window to gain more game time but wants to stay with the Catalan giants, per Juan Jimenez and Jonathan Meaney at AS.
"At all times I have said that I want to stay at Barca. ... At the moment I'm not considering leaving the club and everything is going very well. I'm going to stay here.
"Some manager has talked to my father, but they have not made it very clear what they want to do with me. The club has always trusted me a lot, they want me to triumph here and they see me as an investment."
Barcelona's director of youth football Patrick Kluivert has advised Puig to go out on loan. He told Albert Roge and Tomas Andreu at Sport that "it's better for Riqui to go out on loan to play at a different level."
Puig is widely regarded as one of La Masia's most promising talents. He made his debut for the first team in their 4-1 win over Cultural Leonesa in the Copa del Rey in December 2018 and went on to make two La Liga starts against Celta Vigo and Huesca:
However, he has not managed a first-team appearance for Ernesto Valverde's team in 2019-20, although he has continued to impress for Francisco Javier Garcia Pimienta's Barcelona B team:
Segunda Division side Las Palmas had been linked with a move for the youngster. Yet president Miguel Angel Ramirez has ruled out bringing Puig to the club in January, per Sport.
Puig has bags of potential and talent but is struggling for game time with the Barcelona first team due to the fierce competition for places in midfield.
However, that could all change when the transfer window reopens in January. Barcelona want to sell Ivan Rakitic and loan out Carles Alena, according to Ben Hayward at the Evening Standard.
If both players were to leave the Camp Nou it would free up space in the first team, which may offer Puig the chance to stake a claim for a place in Valverde's squad.
Is Pep Guardiola Close to a Barcelona-Style Burnout at Manchester City?
Dec 2, 2019
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 30: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola gestures during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester City at St. James Park on November 30, 2019 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Manchester City slipped up again at the weekend. Twice the reigning league title holders went ahead at Newcastle United, and twice they coughed up a lead, with the match ending in a 2-2 draw. There is now an 11-point gap between themselves and league-leaders Liverpool.
City's manager Pep Guardiola remained buoyant in the post-match press conference, stressing that his players' "body language" remains positive. City's performances have, however, dipped—only one win in their last five games—compared with their two previous record-breaking seasons, a 100-point league title-winning tally and a domestic treble, respectively.
The sight of Guardiola screaming "twice" at the fourth official during City's 3-1 defeat to Liverpool in November and pointing skywards with a crazed look in his eyes—an unhinged display that triggered a flurry of memes—will have alarmed City fans.
Is Guardiola feeling the strain? He is now in his fourth season in charge at the Etihad Stadium, the same juncture at which he burnt out during his time as Barcelona coach. That he walked away from arguably the greatest team in history—with the chance to win several more UEFA Champions League titles—still rankles in the Catalan city.
According to Guillem Balague's biography of Guardiola, he was taking tablets to help him sleep towards the end at Barcelona. He could no longer motivate his players, who had won 14 trophies in four seasons, including an unprecedented six titles in one year. A rot had set in, with his fullback Dani Alves, for example, reporting back late for duty after his Christmas holidays.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 10: Manchester City Manager Pep Guardiola reacts during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester City at Anfield on November 10, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Chloe Knott - Danehouse/Getty I
"As a trainer, Pep is very demanding on his players," says Josep Maria Minguella, who worked as Guardiola's agent when he was a player. "It leads to the wearing down of his footballers. When he sees that he can't get his group of players to respond to his needs, he prefers to leave than to stay and create problems in the club."
Off the pitch at Barcelona, Guardiola had to fight unwelcome battles—unproven allegations that his team were taking drugs; the relentless sniping from then-rival Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho; the infamous "entorno" around the Barcelona institution, a phrase coined by Guardiola's mentor Johan Cruyff to describe the forces surrounding the club, including the press, former players-turned-pundits and directors.
Guardiola was unwittingly embroiled in the civil war politics that have spilt the club since the 1990s—a divide between supporters of Josep Lluis Nunez (president 1978-2000), Sandro Rosell (president, 2010-2014) and the incumbent president Josep Maria Bartomeu on one side of the house, and acolytes of Cruyff (coach, 1988-1996) on the other side.
Guardiola was appointed head coach of Barcelona by president Joan Laporta, a Cruyff devotee, in 2008, but Guardiola never enjoyed a close relationship with Laporta's successor, Rosell, who is said to have disparagingly referred to the manager in private as the "Dalai Lama."
Lu Martin, a friend of Guardiola's who has been following his career for three decades and has probably interviewed him about 100 times, is the co-author of Pep's City: The Making of a Superteam. He explains why the internal politics in the club impacted the way Barcelona's fans have been ambivalent about Guardiola, who is not universally loved within the club.
"It goes back to the phenomenon of Nunez and the Nunez sector of Barcelona," says Martin. "There were 'nunistas' in the club who never liked him as a player or as a trainer. It's the way it is. He will never be able to be seen a different light with them. As a result, he doesn't have much of a relationship with the Bartomeu regime either at the moment because of his [poor] relationship with Rosell's regime when he was coach."
Barcelona's coach Josep Guardiola (L) speaks with Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (R) during
The contrast with the support network Guardiola enjoys at Manchester City couldn't be starker. It's a fundamental reason why he's more at ease in the north of England than he was in his homeland at Catalonia, having signed, for example, two separate three-year contracts at Manchester City when he used to only commit to single-season contracts at Barcelona.
Guardiola has three pillars supporting him at Manchester City. The club's chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, has been unwavering in his support of Guardiola, in particular after an underwhelming first season in charge.
The faith he has shown in Guardiola has been returned. When Mubarak persuaded Guardiola to extend his contract in May 2018 for another three years, even Guardiola's wife, Cristina Serra, was surprised, as Guardiola had only recently quipped he'd only sign six-month contracts if he could get away with it.
"The key to Pep being so comfortable in City is that he's surrounded by friends," says Pol Ballus, co-author of Pep's City. "Barcelona is a very complicated club. There's a lot of noise—the 'entorno,' the scrutiny from the press, which is very different to England. It's not a secret that Pep didn't get much support from the board at Barcelona. They weren't aligned with his ideology.
"Bayern Munich [where Guardiola managed from 2013-2016] also wasn't an easy club. The pressure its ex-footballing legends bring to bear—with their egos and their own interests and opinions—had a destabilising effect.
"At Manchester City, this doesn't happen because the whole club is constructed to serve Pep so that he can go about his work. It makes him more comfortable than at any other club he's been at. In terms of a structure, it's the best club that exists for him, especially with Txiki Begiristain and Ferran Soriano around."
Begiristain, who has been City's director of football since 2012, is an old teammate of Guardiola's from Cryuff's "Dream Team" of the early 1990s. As Barcelona's former director of football, Begiristain was instrumental in getting Guardiola appointed as head coach at Barcelona. According to Guardiola, "when maybe 3 per cent of the people at Barca believed in me," Begiristain was key to securing Guardiola's appointment as Barcelona head coach.
HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20: Manchester City Director of Football Txiki Begiristain watches the Premier League match between Huddersfield Town and Manchester City at John Smith's Stadium on January 20, 2019 in Huddersfield, United Kingdom. (Photo b
Soriano is another link from Barcelona. He was a director of finance during Laporta's presidency and joined City as its CEO in 2012. Soriano and Begiristain own a restaurant with Guardiola in one of Barcelona's hipster "barrios" Poble Sec, which is called Tast.
Guardiola has several lieutenants in his coaching staff from his days at Barca, too, which add to the sense of a comfort zone. They include his right-hand man, the six-time Olympian Manel Estiarte, who Guardiola calls "the Maradona of water polo." He acts as Guardiola's eyes and ears in the dressing room, which allows Guardiola to take a step back.
"Apart from being a more experienced trainer now than he was at Barcelona, Pep has also learnt to distance himself from the dressing room," says Ballus. "He's more mature. He's not the young coach starting out at Barca he once was. At Barca, he was very close to players like Xavi, [Carles] Puyol, [Andres] Iniesta, [Gerard] Pique.
"Now Pep is more conscious of his role. He's a trainer in the end; he's not a player anymore. He's not in the middle of the players' dynamic in the dressing room, their jokes and their [mischief]. His job is to make the team function without getting immersed in their day-to-day lives and their commentaries in the press.
"When he wants to talk to his players, he'll call them to his office. It's maybe to mark out a little bit his position. He has figures like Manel Estiarte that tell him everything that happens in the dressing room. Estiarte can read the moods in the dressing room for him—if there's something awry; if there's a player who hates him; or a player who's not training well. Guardiola can draw on his assistants to help him in this regard."
Guardiola, who is renowned for his perfectionist streak, is also less severe on himself. He's learnt to stop getting bogged down in detail.
"Pep isn't the trainer that he was starting out at Barca, when he was more [obsessive] about the errors he committed," says Martin. "Before, when his side had played a game, he would sit down to watch the game again on video two times. Now, for example, after the game at Newcastle United at the weekend, he won't have watched this game again. It's over.
"He doesn't torture himself about the game—what he did well or poorly. He's faster now at dissecting things. He doesn't beat himself up over the things that went wrong. He doesn't suffer as much. He's learnt how to draw a line in the sand and move on."
Marti Perarnau, a Barcelona-born former Olympian and author of two behind-the-scenes biographies of Guardiola, also senses a more relaxed Guardiola, one who is more philosophical about the vagaries of sport than the young trainer who announced he was walking away from Barcelona after losing to Chelsea in the 2012 UEFA Champions League semi-final.
"Pep's situation in Manchester is very different to that of Barcelona 2012. Pep now is comfortable and happy at City," says Perarnau. "Yes, there is the problem of an 11-point gap with respect to Liverpool in the league, but that is only a problem that he—like any coach—has to tackle in a highly competitive sport. You can't always win. And after two history-making seasons, this Premier League season is very, very difficult.
"Pep is really content in Manchester and with his players. I was with them recently and I did not detect any tension or problems or stress, outside of the ordinary push to win matches. There are players in better or worse form, but that is another logical factor of competition at the top level."
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 30: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City looks on prior to the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester City at St. James Park on November 30, 2019 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. (P
As to Guardiola's future, Martin reckons he'll possibly take a one-year sabbatical after he finishes at City and may well end his working life back training at Barcelona's youth academy. Guardiola also has an ambition to lead a national team, although it won't be Spain—the country he won 47 caps for as well as a gold medal in the 1992 Olympics—given his overt support for Catalan independence.
"It's impossible that he would become trainer of Spain," says Martin. "First of all, because the Spanish wouldn't want him and, second, he wouldn't feel any identification with the team."
Guardiola's contract with City runs out in the summer of 2021. Both Martin and Ballus believe it wouldn't be in his nature to break a contract and walk away before it concludes, but Martin adds a caveat.
"The doubt is whether he will continue next season or not," says Martin. "It's the doubt that everyone has. Every year, his assistant coach Mikel Arteta has offers to leave. He has to be Pep's successor at City. If Pep stays, I think we'll see a transition next year—that Mikel will assume responsibility for a lot of games, preparing the team, taking team talks. Mikel would be like a co-manager."
In the meantime, there's a Premier League game away on Tuesday at Burnley and the Manchester derby at the weekend on the horizon, and, of course, the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League to come in the New Year. It's the club's holy grail, a trophy that has eluded Guardiola since his landmark victory with Barcelona at Wembley Stadium almost a decade ago, and one that he'll desperately want to deliver before leaving City.
Atletico Fan Throws Umbrella at Lionel Messi After Game-Winner for Barcelona
Dec 2, 2019
MADRID, SPAIN - DECEMBER 1: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona during the La Liga Santander match between Atletico Madrid v FC Barcelona at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on December 1, 2019 in Madrid Spain (Photo by Rico Brouwer/Soccrates/Getty Images)
An Atletico Madrid fan threw an umbrella at Lionel Messi after he scored the decisive goal in Barcelona's 1-0 win against them on Sunday.
Per Sport, some Atleti fans reacted particularly badly to Messi's 86th-minute winner and threw objects on to the pitch, among them an umbrella, according to referee Mateu Lahoz's post-game report.
Lahoz, who had to pick up all the objects on the turf at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, wrote: "Various objects were thrown, without hitting any player, highlighting a black umbrella."
After a thrilling game in which both sides failed to convert their chances—with Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-AndreterStegenresponsible for several excellent saves—Messinotched the winner shortly before the end of normal time:
Lionel Messi 😍
This incredible winning goal in last night's win over Atletico Madrid 🔥
Camp Nou Son Moix Balaídos C de Valencia Sánchez-Pizjuán El Sadar Alfonso Pérez Mestalla Bernabéu Zorrilla Est. de la Cerámica Villamarín Anoeta N Los Cármenes RCDE Stad. San Mamés Ipurua Butarque Mendizorroza Wanda Metropolitano 🐐 pic.twitter.com/gQwWkZDxxo
There's more than half of the season still to be played, butMessi's goal has inflicted a significant dent onAtleti's title chances.
The defeat leaves LosRojiblancossix points behind Barcelona and Real Madrid.
The two teams have a game in hand overAtletias well, because theirClasicohad to be rescheduled from October 26 until December 18, so one of their two biggest rivals could be nine points ahead of them by the winter break.
As forMessi, he now has 11 goals in 14 matches in all competitions for Barcelona this season, including nine in as many La Liga appearances.
Ivan Rakitic Doesn't Understand Barcelona Situation, Hints He's Open to Transfer
Dec 2, 2019
BARCELONA, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 27: Ivan Rakitic of FC Barcelona looks on during the UEFA Champions League group F match between FC Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund at Camp Nou on November 27, 2019 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)
Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has again hinted he could leave the club unless his playing time increases, saying he doesn't "understand the situation" following his fall in status this season, but he stressed his preference is to remain at the club.
The playmaker made only his second league start of the season in Sunday's 1-0 league win at Atletico Madrid, his first 90-minute display in 13 total appearances this term.
He spoke to reporters after the game, per Marca (h/t Goal's Dejan Kalinic): "I do not understand the situation because I want to play. If I can play, there is no better place than Barca. I want to enjoy every day, and if it can be here, much better."
Lionel Messi scored at the Wanda Metropolitano for the first time in his career, and it was his goal that condemned Atleti to a second straight defeat in all competitions:
Rakitic, 31, has been a near-constant in Barca's midfield since he joined from Sevilla in June 2014. Luis Enrique was Blaugrana boss when he moved to the Camp Nou, but Ernesto Valverde has also used the player a lot since he took over in 2017.
Squawka writer Muhammad Butt criticised Rakitic's performance against Atletico and called for Valverde to promote Barcelona product Riqui Puig:
Rakitic was horrible btw. now Busquets is back I don't wanna see him again. sell him in January and promote Riqui Puig ffs.
Rakitic has complained about playing time already this season and opened up on previous comments that he felt Barcelona had taken his ball away:
"I said that the ball had been taken from me to imply how much I like football.
"But if I can play, there is no better place than Barca. What I want to do is enjoy, doing my best because I still have a lot to give.
"I have the confidence of my team-mates and if the coach puts me in, I understand that it will also be like that."
Valverde also started the 2018 FIFA World Cup runner-up in Wednesday's 3-1 UEFA Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund, a decision lamented by football blogger Roy Nemer:
Rakitic starting the biggest game of the season for Barcelona. Griezmann and Arthur not starting. That shows you the incompetency of the person who is supposed to be coaching this team.
Frenkie de Jong's arrival from Ajax this past summer has been a large reason why Rakitic has fallen down the pecking order, with the former quickly becoming almost omnipresent in the club's midfield.
As for where Rakitic could go if he were to leave, Juventus director Fabio Paratici told ESPN in November his club are not pursuing the midfielder, saying: "Rakitic is a great player, but we are not interested."
The Croat's contract at the Camp Nou isn't due to expire until June 2021, at which point he'll be 33 years old.
Nevertheless, Rakitic appears adamant about fighting for his place in Catalonia judging by his recent social media activity:
Barca's win at Atletico kept them top of the table. The team have lost three times this season, and Rakitic was in the starting XI for only one of those—he played the first 60 minutes of their 2-0 loss at Granada in September.
Valverde's side host Mallorca in La Liga on Saturday, with Rakitic hoping to build on his best run in the XI so far this campaign.
