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Setien pleased with Barcelona’s 5-0 rout of Eibar

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Setien pleased with Barcelona's 5-0 rout of Eibar
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Amidst all the turmoil and work at Barcelona, Nou Camp boss Quique Setien finally appeared to be a happy man at the club.

Barcelona marched to a 5-0 win against Eibar. It was a Messi masterclass as the little winger scored 4 goals out of 5 including a first half hat-trick.

This win definitely lifted the mood in and around Nou Camp and also relieved the boss from some undue pressure. 

“We were waiting for a match like this, in which things went well for us and we were doing things right,” Marca quoted the 61-year-old as saying in his post-match press conference.

“In other games we couldn’t finish like today despite doing things right.

“Today it went well, with three goals before the break.

“That gave us peace of mind and allowed us to think about what awaits ahead for us.”

Setien lauded Messi’s genius as well.

“Messi has been doing this for 14 or 15 years and will continue to do so,” Setién said.

“He is a guarantee for any team. The reality is that he is always there. If he is not there with his goals, he is with his assists.

“That is why it is the best in the world, because he resolves what others can’t.”

See More: FC Barcelona Top Scorer this Season 19/20

Inter striker Martinez not thinking about Barcelona yet

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Inter striker Martinez not thinking about Barcelona yet
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Lautaro Martinez has been the discovery of the season so far for Inter Milan.

Despite the Italian club getting back in the title race mix, it is the development of Martinez that has caught the attention of the world.

Recently Barcelona legend Lionel Messi gave an interview where he talked about the class and quality of Martinez. He compared the young striker to Luis Suarez and hinted at a Barcelona transfer for him.

“He is spectacular. He was seen to be a great player, now he exploded and is showing it.

“He is very strong. He is very good one against one, he scores a lot of goals and in the area he fights with anyone.

“Lautaro has a lot of quality – and shares a resemblance with Luis Suárez!”

However, the player has not quite jumped ships yet and Conte is confident that his striker is focused only on Inter Milan.

“The boy is fully concentrated,” Conte said at a news conference on Saturday. “He is doing well and must continue in this way. 

“He has grown a lot over the last year and is only 22. He is committed and I am happy to have him available.”

See More: FC Barcelona Squad 2019-20: Teams, Salaries, Contracts and Transfers

Barcelona bid for Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez

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Barcelona bid for Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez
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Martinez has been a long-time Barca target.

And it seems that the Spanish club have already presented their first offer to the player.

Barcelona have offered Inter striker Lautaro Martinez a contract until 2025 with a wage of €7m plus bonuses a year, according to famous transfer expert Nicolo Schira.

Lautaro is Barca’s first transfer target in the summer, they are working for him for a long time. Inter Milan would not want to sell their striker, but there is a €110m release clause in his current contract, The Blaugrana could pay it to take him away.

Even Lionel Messi recently praised the Nerazzurri striker: “He’s spectacular, he’s in stunning form. You could always tell he was a great player, but he’s really exploded in the last year,” Messi told Mundo Deportivo. “He’s good in one-one one situations, fights it out with anyone, wins back the ball, can turn in the box. He’s a complete forward.”

There have been numerous reports suggesting Lautaro Martinez is the heir to Luis Suarez at Barcelona and Messi seems to agree.

“He is very similar to Suarez, both use their ball to turn, protect the ball, battle and score goals. I think all great players will in the end adapt. Luis Suarez has a lot of experience and could help Lautaro settle into the club and the Liga. Of course, this is all a hypothetically speaking…”

Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva on Barcelona radar

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Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva on Barcelona radar
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Ciry could be forced to see a mass exodus in the summer.

And one Citizen could be set to leave for the Camp Nou.

Barcelona could be tempted to make a summer move for Manchester City star Bernardo Silva, according to reports in the Daily Express. City have been hit with a two-year Champions League ban from next season, following alleged breaches of FFP guidelines set out by UEFA.

Speculation has intensified in recent days, that if their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport is unsuccessful, they could face a mass exodus this summer.

Silva, who joined Pep Guardiola’s side in a €54m deal from Ligue 1 side Monaco ahead of the 2017/18 season. However, despite agreeing a new six-year contract at the Etihad Stadium less than 12 months ago, the midfielder is one of the growing list of names being linked with an exit.

Journalist Duncan Castles stated in the Express’ ‘Transfer Window’ podcast, that Barcelona have had a ‘long standing’ interest in Silva, and have already enquired about his potential availability. If Barcelona do push ahead for a move, City are likely to demand a significant return on their initial investment, with a fee of around €80m being mentioned as a possible starting offer.

Setien asks players to imagine Eibar as a cup final

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Setien asks players to imagine Eibar as a cup final
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The Eibar clash is coming up this Saturday and Setien has asked the players to imagine this match as a cup final.

He told a pre-match press conference: “We’re concentrated on this game we’ve got before we face the three or four coming up which are going to be important.

“We’ve treated the game as if it were a final and we need the three points.

“Not only will that allow us to continue up there, but it will strengthen us for the games to come.

“We have to do things well, it’s not going to be an easy game.”

“We’ll surely see him starting in some game. Maybe it’s a bit early now.

“He’s come here in good shape but there are concepts and things that need explaining to him and that he needs to understand.

“We hope he will help us a lot.”

Setien added of his possible line-up this weekend: “It’s true that you need to take (the Napoli game) into account but our first priority is to win this game.

“We won’t reserve anything that will help us win this game.”

He said on Thursday: “I’m encouraged by yesterday’s training session. We did some exercises and had a game with numerical superiority and I really liked the intensity, and how we defended and attacked.

“That means I will go to Barcelona with my head high.”

See More: Top 10 Barcelona Most Expensive Departures Ever

Barcelona and Real Madrid make all club tremble: Guardiola

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Barcelona and Real Madrid make all club tremble: Guardiola
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Pep Guardiola has said Barcelona and Real Madrid can make any team tremble. 

“All the clubs have to know that when Real Madrid or Barcelona knock on the door, the other clubs must tremble, they will be a little bit in trouble,” Guardiola told reporters.

“Barcelona and Madrid are maybe the strongest and most powerful teams in terms of history and how good they are. That is normal and I understand completely.

“But on the same point, you just see the commitment from Raheem, every single day when he arrives. He’s never injured.

“His commitment in every game, offensively and defensively, so he’s one of the best players in the world and it’s normal that big clubs see his desire for the team.

“I don’t know if Madrid or Barcelona called his agent, [but] I don’t have any doubts about the commitment Raheem and the other ones have had from the first day to the last day.”

“My happiness. I’m looking for my happiness, that’s the only thing I’m looking for,” Guardiola said when asked if he would consider staying beyond the expiration of his current deal, which runs out at the end of next season.

“I’m working with exceptional players especially and I have the feeling that they follow us 100 per cent, knowing how it’s not easy working with us and with me, but I’m happy.

“That is the only reason why, when I move on always it’s because I am thinking I can be happier than the place that I was before. That is the only reason.

“We have got incredible owners and a good relationship, so I think it will not be a problem to understand both sides if we decide to stay three more years or stay in the time we are together.”

See More: FC Barcelona Players Wages 2020 (Weekly Salaries)

PHOTOS: First look at Nike 2020/2021 Barcelona home, away and third jersey

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First look at Nike 20202021 Barcelona home, away and third jersey
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Barcelona are set to continue with Nike for the next season.

And the designs have just been leaked.

Nike representatives were at Barcelona‘s training ground on Wednesday to show the players the kits they’ll be wearing next season, the Catalonia-based daily Mundo Deportivo has reported.

Having kitted the La Liga giants out in an unusual, checkerboard design this season, Nike’s 2020/21 Barca home shirt is set to revert to the club’s traditional stripes. However, it appears that the sportswear giant is to include a striking yellow line between each stripe, with the colour also used for the collar and sleeve trim.

Take a look at the designs:

First look at Nike 20202021  Barcelona home, away and third jersey

Why Messi won’t mind playing with Ronaldo

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Why Messi won't mind playing with Ronaldo
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Messi was asked about his how he felt about his rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

“It’s normal that Cristiano Ronaldo continues to score, he is a predatory striker,” Messi told the Spanish newspaper, Mundo Deportivo.

“Ronaldo loves to score goals, he will score every time he plays. He has many qualities as a striker, he scores at the smallest chance that he has.

“If we played together I think I would pass the ball to him, yes … Real without Ronaldo has lost many goals, but it was obvious it would happened.

“Not only goals, Cristiano also brings many other things. If a team loses a player who scored 50 goals per season, its noticeable.

“Real Madrid has great players, but Cristiano scores 50 goals per season.”

Ronaldo also revealed his relationship with Messi.

“We have shared the stage 15 years. I don’t know if that’s happened before — the same two guys on the same stage all the time,” said Ronaldo.

“Of course, we have a good relationship. We haven’t had dinner together yet, but I hope in the future.

“We had that battle in Spain. I pushed him and he pushed me as well. So it’s good to be part of the history of football.”

See More: Barcelona Most expensive player: Barcelona’s costliest player!

Barcelona Admits Signing Braithwaite Unfair On Leganes

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Barcelona Admits Signing Braithwaite Unfair On Leganes

Barcelona president, Jose Maria Bartomeu actually came out and repented bullying Leganes into a sale.

The La Liga champions completed an emergency signing of Martin Braithwaite by triggering his €18m release clause.

A deficiency in attack due to injuries has forced Barca to go out and demand a shift in rules. While they were allowed to do so, Leganes was refused an opporunity to make additions of their own.

“We have paid the clause following the regulations, although we believe that it should be revised because it is not fair that Leganes cannot now sign anyone,” Bartomeu told reporters.

Of course, questions have been raised about the signing of Braithwaite, a player who was playing the Championship two seasons back.

“After analysing different players, we chose Martin. We believe it will help us win the two remaining titles,” he added. “I am very excited about the arrival of a new player and we hope he will help us in a league that we want to win and that is very open. He will give us strength.

“We had a long-term injured player like Dembele, in addition to Luis Suarez. The technical team has studied players and we hope Braithwaite can debut quickly. He has signed for the next four and a half years and comes to help now and for the future.”

READ MORE: FC Barcelona Biggest Wins & Losses and Highest Scoring Draws

What Barcelona captain Lionel Messi had to say regarding Manchester City ban

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What Barcelona captain Lionel Messi had to say regarding Manchester City ban
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Last week, UEFA suspended the English side from the next two tournaments.

The Argentine has now commented on City’s UCL ban.

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi believes it would be “screwed” if Manchester City‘s players were banned from playing in the Champions League for two years. Last week City were hit with a two-year ban from European competition by UEFA for “serious breaches” of Financial Fair Play regulations following an investigation.

City, who were accused of “overstating sponsorship revenue” between 2012 and 2016, have denied any wrongdoing and intend to appeal the sanctions at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. However, should the ban stick, it would cast doubts over the futures of players such as Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne and Messi’s close friend Sergio Aguero.

“It is surprising because nobody thought that such a thing could happen, so powerful,” Messi told Mundo Deportivo. “Paris [Saint-Germain] paid a fine or I don’t know how it went. If in the end City does not play in the Champions League for what it is, with the players, the club, and the money it spends, it will be weird.”