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Transfer deadline day: The Premier League's wild spending far from done after $2.5 billion spree
Read full article: Transfer deadline day: The Premier League's wild spending far from done after $2.5 billion spreePremier League teams have spent more than $2.5 billion on players in a record outlay during European soccer’s transfer window.
Madrid starts Spanish league defense aiming for title sweep
Read full article: Madrid starts Spanish league defense aiming for title sweepReal Madrid starts the Spanish league season overflowing with confidence that it can retain the domestic title despite Barcelona spending big to add top talent to its team.
AP Interview: Sergiño Dest says 'it is my time' at Barcelona
Read full article: AP Interview: Sergiño Dest says 'it is my time' at Barcelona(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)BARCELONA – Amid the turmoil at Barcelona, United States defender Sergiño Dest has found his patch to flourish. The former Ajax player arrived in the aftermath of Barcelona’s devastating 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League in August. Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman immediately put him to work filling in for injured fullbacks on both sides of the team’s defense. So that is why I chose Barça,” Dest said about becoming the first American player to sign for Barcelona’s senior club in early October. “I just worry about the team, and making sure we win the league and the Champions League,” Dest said.
Nations League: Record-breaker Fati stars in Spain rebuild
Read full article: Nations League: Record-breaker Fati stars in Spain rebuildSpain's Ansu Fati is airborne as he attempts to control the ball during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Spain and Ukraine at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020. Spain goes top of its Nations League group by a point from Ukraine. Barely a year since he became Barcelona's youngest league scorer, he appears set to be the future for both club and country. NO WIN FOR GERMANYThe Nations League just isn't Germany's competition. The Nations League format keeps teams of similar competitive strength together.
Waiting for Messi, Barcelona still reeling after 8-2 loss
Read full article: Waiting for Messi, Barcelona still reeling after 8-2 lossA worker holds a shirt with the name of Barcelona soccer player Lionel Messi at a F.C Barcelona store in Barcelona, Spain on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020. Barcelona is banking on a face-to-face meeting with Lionel Messi to try to convince him to stay. Talks with Messis father-agent are expected this week in Barcelona but the club also hopes to sit down with the player himself. Messi invoked a clause that allowed him to leave for free at the end of the season, but Barcelona said the clause expired in June. But so far no word from Messi on anything, and as he keeps quiet, Barcelona keeps reeling.
Questions surround Messis future amid Barcelona chaos
Read full article: Questions surround Messis future amid Barcelona chaosBarcelona's Lionel Messi reacts during the Champions League quarterfinal match between FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. Gerard Piqu says Barcelona "hit rock bottom" in an 8-2 humiliation from Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals. Rumors of clubs wanting to sign Messi started to surface immediately after the teams loss to Bayern, with Pep Guardiola-coached Manchester City reportedly among the front-runners. Earlier this season, Messi criticized Barcelona directors for some of their decisions. He had also said that he didnt think Barcelona would succeed in the Champions League the way things were at the club.
Barca may need youth to get past Napoli, reach CL final 8
Read full article: Barca may need youth to get past Napoli, reach CL final 8Barcelona will be without midfielders Sergio Busquets, Arturo Vidal and Arthur for Saturdays second leg of their round-of-16 tie. The match will be played five months after the Spanish side earned a 1-1 draw at Napoli before the pandemic brought most sports to a halt. Both Rique and Ansu are ready to play, Setin said Friday. Fati, 17, made a huge splash this season by becoming the youngest player to score in the Spanish league and the Champions League, among other precocious scoring milestones. With only 13 first-team players available, Setin has called up seven members of Barcelonas youth squad, including American Konrad de la Fuente.