WANTAWAY BARCELONA VETERAN MASCHERANO 'TOO OLD' FOR CSL SIDE TIANJIN QUANJIAN

Will the 33-year-old leave Barcelona for China? The club linked to his services says he's a bit old for them
Tianjin Quanjian have dismissed links with Barcelona veteran Javier Mascherano by insisting he is "too old" for the Chinese Super League side.
Rumoured CSL target Mascherano is tipped to leave La Liga giants Barca, having recently spoke of his time at Camp Nou coming to an end.
With game time hard to come by under Barca head coach Ernesto Valverde, the 33-year-old has been linked with a January move to China, where Tianjin have reportedly made an offer for the Argentina international.
However, Tianjin – now led by former Fiorentina boss Paulo Sousa following Fabio Cannavaro's return to Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao – denied those reports, pointing to Mascherano's age.

Read More: http://www.goal.com/en/news/mascherano-too-old-for-tianjin-quanjian/qgj67j33z4ar1nzg1cbocvla5

Wantaway Barca veteran Mascherano 'too old' for Tianjin Quanjian

Tianjin Quanjian have dismissed links with Barcelona veteran Javier Mascherano by insisting he is "too old" for the Chinese Super League side.
Rumoured CSL target Mascherano is tipped to leave LaLiga giants Barca, having recently spoke of his time at Camp Nou coming to an end.
With game time hard to come by under Barca head coach Ernesto Valverde, the 33-year-old has been linked with a January move to China, where Tianjin have reportedly made an offer for the Argentina international.
However, Tianjin – now led by former Fiorentina boss Paulo Sousa following Fabio Cannavaro's return to Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao – denied those reports, pointing to Mascherano's age.

Read more: https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/wantaway-barca-veteran-mascherano-too-old-tianjin-quanjian

FORMER BARCELONA FORWARD SALINAS: RONALDO NOT AMONG BEST EVER

The former La Liga star dismissed the Real Madrid man's claims that he is the "best player in history" via social media
Record-equalling Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo does not deserve his awards and is not among the best players in history, according to former Barcelona and Atletico Madrid forward Julio Salinas.
Real Madrid star Ronaldo made history Thursday by matching Lionel Messi's record Ballon d'Or haul of five, retaining football's most prestigious individual prize for the second year running.
Ronaldo claimed the Ballon d'Or for the fourth time in five years as the 32-year-old labelled himself the "best player in history".

Read More: http://www.goal.com/en/news/former-barcelona-forward-salinas-ronaldo-not-among-best-ever/1tg4tjaszr8tm1wqx48use7n88

Real Madrid vs Sevilla – Match Preview ahead of the crucial La Liga fixture

Real Madrid take on Sevilla in the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday. Here’s what you can expect ahead of Madrid’s crucial La Liga fixture.

The Bernabéu should be rocking on Saturday as Real Madrid host Sevilla in a fixture that Madrid absolutely must win to keep the pressure on FC Barcelona in the race for the La Liga title. Cristiano Ronaldo returns from France the conquering hero, having just won his fifth ever career Ballon d’Or.

The Dark Invader comes into the match in fine footballing form as well, having just put on a display against Borussia Dortmund midweek in the Champions League. Ronaldo’s been going through a bit of a dry patch when it comes to goalscoring in La Liga, and he’ll be hoping to add a few to his tally against Sevilla.

Read More: https://therealchamps.com/2017/12/09/real-madrid-vs-sevilla-match-preview-ahead-madrids-crucial-la-liga-fixture/

Salinas: Ronaldo not among best ever and doesn't deserve Ballon d'Or awards

Record-equalling Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo does not deserve his awards and is not among the best players in history, according to former Barcelona and Atletico Madrid forward Julio Salinas.
Real Madrid star Ronaldo made history Thursday by matching Lionel Messi's record Ballon d'Or haul of five, retaining football's most prestigious individual prize for the second year running.
Ronaldo claimed the Ballon d'Or for the fourth time in five years as the 32-year-old labelled himself the "best player in history".
However, ex-Spain international Salinas dismissed Ronaldo's claims via social media as he talked Barca great Messi.

"Just because you're very good, that doesn't mean you're the best, as you've had the bad luck of coinciding with the great Messi," he wrote on Twitter.
"Sincerely, I don't think you are on the podium of the best in history, as there are quite a few who'd surpass you.

Read More: https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/salinas-ronaldo-not-among-best-ever-and-doesnt-deserve-ballon-dor-awards

Lionel Messi wants Barcelona 'to abandon Philippe Coutinho chase in favour of signing a new defender'

Lionel Messi reportedly wants Barcelona to abandon their pursuit of Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho.

According to a report on Diario Gol , the Barca talisman wants his side to focus on signing a defender when the window opens next month, following the injury to Samuel Umtiti.


One name linked with the Catalan side is Ajax's 18-year-old centre-back Matthijs de Ligt.

This comes after fresh reports emerged that Barca would be preparing a bid for Liverpool's Brazilian playmaker in the upcoming January window.

Read More: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/lionel-messi-wants-barcelona-to-11646826

Barcelona news: Lionel Messi’s absence explained by Ivan Rakitic

The Argentine was benched for the third time this season during Barca’s 2-0 victory over Sporting Lisbon.

It was the second successive Champions League match that Messi started as a substitute, but he was given a run out for the final half an hour, just after Paco Alcacer headed the hosts ahead.

Former Barcelona defender Jeremy Mathieu scored an own goal to complete the victory for Ernesto Valverde’s side.

And they will now progress to the knockout stages as a seeded team after winning their group.

But Messi’s absence in back-to-back games has drawn questions from some groups of supporters.

Read More: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/888642/Barcelona-news-Lionel-Messi-Ivan-Rakitic-Champions-League-Sporting-Lisbon