FC Barcelona News: 30 December 2017; Holiday Break Ends, Juventus Looking at Sergi Roberto

FC Barcelona training resumes on Saturday 30 December | FC Barcelona
Since ending the year with a fantastic win at the Santiago Bernabéu, Ernesto Valverde and his squad have been getting some well-earned rest with their families, but they are due back at the Ciutat Esportiva at 6.00pm CET on December 30.

How many kilometres have Barça travelled in 2017? | FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona have done no less than 53,398 kilometres on the road this calendar year spread over 36 trips. Starting back on 5 January with an away game in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey in Bilbao and ending with the victorious trip to the Santiago Bernabéu to take on Real Madrid which saw Ernesto Valverde’s men take a 3-0 win that left them nine points clear of their nearest rivals in the league at the turn of the year, the squad have travelled around the world to great success.

Juve eye Barca star, if Can plan fails | Calciomercato
Juventus are said to admirers of Liverpool midfielder Emre Can and their tactic of signing players once their contracts expire will help them sign the German. But Liverpool’s resistance means that the Old Lady could be forced into looking at possible alternatives. One of them happens to be Barcelona’s Sergi Roberto.

FC Barcelona's Most Viral Tweets of 2017 | FC Barcelona
See which Twitter posts on the Club's official account were the most heard 'round the world over the last 12 months.

Real Madrid star requests affordable selling price

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has requested that the La Liga and European champions set their asking price for the forward at an affordable £89m in order to attract potential suitors next summer, reports the Daily Record.

The 32-year-old has been linked with a move away from the Bernabeu for some time now, even if he penned a new deal in November 2016.

However, the release clause in that contract is set at a staggering £887m and Ronaldo’s representatives are asking club president Florentino Perez to lower that figure in order not to deter long-term suitors PSG and former club Manchester United.

Tensions between Ronaldo and Perez are believed to be at their lowest, with the former looking to secure a move away from the Spanish capital.

Football’s World Player of the Year is supposedly angered by Perez’s decision not to bring his basic pay to match his accolades, with the 32-year-old basic salary bettered by Neymar and Lionel Messi, of PSG and Barcelona respectively.

Ronaldo’s current deal with Real Madrid runs until 2021, though his time at the Bernabeu could draw to a close next year, with PSG and United willing to match his astronomical demands. 

Read More: https://www.whoscored.com/News/iBaGk-uC50Cf2HZKDChAiw/Show/Real-Madrid-star-requests-affordable-selling-price

Real Madrid ‘Close To Signing Alexis Sanchez’

Reports in Spain today are suggesting that Real Madrid may be closing in on a move to sign the former Barcelona attacker Alexis Sanchez in the January transfer window. The reports also suggest that the player himself is set on a return to Spain, with Los Blancos as his most likely suitors.

The Chile international’s contract at English Premier League club Arsenal is due to expire at the end of the current season and he has shown no intention of signing a new deal. The Gunners would rather not lose such a valuable player on a free transfer in the summer, so are likely to try and recoup whatever money they can in January.

Alexis Sanchez very nearly left Arsenal to join Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City last summer but the deal fell through after Arsenal could not complete a deal for a replacement.

The Player Wants La Liga Return
Alexis spent three years in Spain as part of Real’s rivals Barcelona, and it looks as if the player wants to return to Spain, this time in the famous white of Real Madrid. He has been at Arsenal since 2014 and individually has been very successful. The club have also claimed a couple of trophies in his time in London.

The reports from Don Balon in Spain suggest that Sanchez would now prefer a move to the Santiago Bernabeu rather than joining Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. Real are expected to put in a bid, but the final decision lies with manager Zinedine Zidane and club president Florentino Perez.

Read More: http://www.realmadridnews.com/real-madrid-close-to-signing-alexis-sanchez-23582?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+realmadridnewscom+%28Realmadridnews.com%29

Cristiano Ronaldo: I have a lot of space for trophies

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo retained the gong for the second successive year and fourth time overall following a stellar 2017.

Cristiano Ronaldo joked he has a lot of space for trophies after winning the Best Player of the Year at the Globe Soccer Awards.

Real Madrid star Ronaldo retained the gong, winning for the fourth time overall following a stellar 2017.

The honour added to his record-equalling fifth Ballon d'Or and FIFA's The Best Award this year after helping Madrid to LaLiga and Champions League glory.

"It is a special moment and I am very happy to receive this award," said Ronaldo, whose agent Jorge Mendes was named Best Agent of the Year.

Read More: https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/cristiano-ronaldo-i-have-a-lot-space-trophies

Chelsea confident Thibaut Courtois will sign new five-year deal amid Real Madrid transfer links

Chelsea are confident Thibaut Courtois will commit his long-term future to the club despite being linked with a stunning move to Real Madrid. La Liga giants Real have shown interest in Courtois since last year and the goalkeeper has fuelled speculation over a move by stalling over signing a new deal. The Belgium international, who signed for Chelsea from Genk in 2011, will have just one year remaining on his current deal come the end of the season.

Courtois has admitted he plans to put contract talks on hold until the summer but Chelsea are reluctant to wait and have already discussed improved terms for a new deal, according to the Daily Mirror. Courtois, 25, has previously spoken of his desire to return to Spain but it is claimed reigning Premier League champions Chelsea believe he will stay.

Read More: http://metro.co.uk/2017/12/29/chelsea-confident-thibaut-courtois-will-sign-new-five-year-deal-amid-real-madrid-transfer-links-7189767/

Real Madrid told how to seal first January signing as Florentino Perez plots overhaul

REAL MADRID have been told how to complete the signing of Kepa in January.

The Athletic Bilbao president Josu Urrutia has revealed how the signing will need to be done if the goalkeeper is to make the move.

Real Madrid are keen on bringing the Spain youngster to the Bernabeu in January and he is expected to be their first signing of the window.

Bilbao have been trying to agree an extension with Kepa but they appear to have missed the chance and he is keen on the move.

He is likely to be back up goalkeeper to Keylor Navas who will be replaced himself in the summer.

Read More:https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/897110/Real-Madrid-transfer-news-Kepa-January-deal

Rumour Mill: Mbappe no longer dreams of Real, Carrasco can leave, Barca to sign Di Maria?

KYLIAN Mbappe has revealed he held talks with Real Madrid before joining PSG, Atletico will let Yannick Carrasco leave and Barcelona to sign Angel Di Maria.
It’s all here in another edition of Rumour Mill!

MBAPPE REVEALS REAL TALKS

French striker Kylian Mbappe has revealed he held talks with Real Madrid before joining Paris Saint-Germain but now no longer dreams of a move to the Spanish champions.

Mbappe had reportedly been a target of Real after he helped fire Monaco to a first French league title in 17 years last season, but instead he joined Paris Saint-Germain in August on an initial loan deal that will become permanent for 180 million euros (AU$275m) next year.

“There were many rumours of a transfer, it’s true that we spoke, but I think that’s now in the past for me and for Real Madrid,” Mbappe said in an interview with Marca.

“I play for PSG now and I am going to defend these colours 100 per cent.”

Mbappe, who turned 19 last week, said he wanted to play for PSG because Paris is his hometown.

“It is like a child from Madrid has the opportunity to play in his team and goes somewhere else, another country. No, I wanted to play for PSG and I am happy for now with how things are going,” he added.

Read More: https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/la-liga/rumour-mill-mbappe-no-longer-dreams-of-real-carrasco-can-leave-barca-to-sign-di-maria/news-story/036d9931e14e78de1805c6339839699c

Lionel Messi finds the next young superstar for Barcelona and wants him signed in January

LIONEL MESSI has found the next young superstar for Barcelona.

Messi has put Justin Kluivert on Ernesto Valverde’s radar after impressing at Ajax.

And he thinks Barcelona should move for the young winger in January, according to Diario Gol.

Barca are looking at their options to add to their squad in the transfer window.

Philippe Coutinho is their top target while Antoine Griezmann is expected to sign in the summer.

Messi has alerted the Barca board to the availability to Angel Di Maria.

And now he also wants them to bring in 18-year-old Kluivert.

He is the son of Patrick - the former Holland and Barcelona striker - and has come through the Ajax academy.

Read More: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/897218/Lionel-Messi-Barcelona-news-Justin-Kluivert

Europe key to Zidane's future at Real Madrid

Real Madrid will stick by Zinedine Zidane despite their La Liga title challenge being all but over after last Saturday's embarrassing 3-0 Clásico defeat.

Club sources insists "nothing to worry about" with regards to the Frenchman's future, even with the reigning European champions some 14 points off Barca's pace in La Liga.

Second-half goals from Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Aleix Vidal crushed Madrid to leave them languishing in fourth place.

While the hosts had been the superior side in the first half, the scoreline told its own story for Zidane, who made the bold call of leaving Isco, Gareth Bale and Marco Asensio on the bench.

The curious selection of Mateo Kovacic as a specialist man-marker ultimately backfired, with Messi repeatedly dragging the midfielder out of position to allow Ivan Rakitic, another Croatian, to drive through the middle of the field and set up Barca's opener.

Beaten Up

"I know I'm going to get beaten up (in the media) for the decision to start Kovacic ahead of Isco, but I'm never going to change. I'm here to make decisions and, if we'd scored in the first half, it would all have been different," said Zidane in the post-match press conference.

"We are not playing badly - that's why it is even more painful.

"Football can change so quickly. Many people said they (Barcelona) were bad in pre-season, and now we will be labelled as bad.

"This is football and we have to accept it. When you win, (people think) everything is wonderful and when you lose, everything is f***** up."

Read More: https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/other-soccer/europe-key-to-zidanes-future-at-real-madrid-36437224.html

How Real suffer without Benzema, Ronaldo goals

Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema heads the ball between Sevilla's French defender Lionel Carole (L) and Sevilla's French defender Clement Lenglet (R) during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid and Sevilla. Photo: AFP
Six goals between Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema in the current LaLiga season is a woefully disappointing return, according to MARCA.

Therein lies an explanation for many of Real Madrid problems this season, with a 14 point gap between the reigning champions and the current league leaders, Barcelona, who look destined to lift the trophy.

That statistic is particularly worrying in the case of Cristiano Ronaldo, a player who has always averaged more than a goal a game since his arrival in Spain.

With 422 strikes from 416 outings , his average is 1.01 goals per game.

This season though, he has become a Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde style player, unstoppable in the Champions League with nine goals in six games, but weak in LaLiga with only four goals, against Getafe, Malaga and Sevilla (a brace).

This time last year, the Portuguese international had notched 12 times.

The campaign didn’t get off to the greatest of starts for Ronaldo, having to serve a suspension for his sending off in the first leg of the Supercopa de Espana and missing the opening four league games as a result.

Without their talisman in attack, Zinedine Zidane’s team got off to a slow start, with draws against Valencia and Levante in his absence, and on both occasions a goalscorer could have turned one point into three.

Even with Ronaldo back in the side, things didn’t improve.

Read More: http://punchng.com/how-real-suffer-without-benzema-ronaldo-goals/