Category: Sports news

Arsenal striker hunt continues with Victor Osimhen the latest target

Arsenal have reportedly entered a battle with Newcastle United over Napoli’s Victor Osimhen as they continue their desperate search for a striker.

Newcastle United have been in the market enquiring about every possible player in a bid to build a super team to help them stay in the Premier League and compete for major honours next season. They have already signed Chris Wood from Burnley but are reportedly interested in Duvan Zapata of Atalanta and now, Osimhen of Napoli.

Arsenal are now reportedly ready to challenge the nouveau-riche club from Tyneside for the Nigerian striker’s signature as they continue their own desperate search to replace the ostracised Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The Gunners were dealt a big blow as their main target for the role, Dusan Vlahovic chose instead to move to Juventus’ earlier in the week. They have since identified a few more attackers including former Chelsea man Diego Costa and Real Sociedad striker Alexander Isak, who is also reported to have turned down a move to the club in the middle of the season.

Arsenal are reportedly ready to match Newcastle United’s £60 million bid for Osimhen.

The Nigerian, who had to sit out his country’s run in the ongoing African Cup of Nations in Cameroon due to a facial injury, moved to the Neapolitan club in 2020 for £66 million. The transfer is currently under scrutiny, as it has been claimed that there were some discrepancies with it.

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis, who recently let club cult hero Lorenzo Insigne sign for Toronto FC in the MLS ahead of next season, is reportedly willing to listen to offers for the Nigerian, who is also becoming a fan favourite at the club.

Arsenal is reportedly ready to splash the same cash initially earmarked for Vlahovic on Osimhen, who is also currently regarded as one of the world’s best strikers. De Laurentiis will listen to offers as they come, according to reports.

Diego Costa makes decision on Arsenal move

Former Chelsea and Atlético de Madrid striker Diego Costa is now a free agent after spending one year in Brazil with Atlético Mineiro.

The former Spanish international scored five goals in 19 games for the Brazilian club, as they lifted their first league title in 59 years; their second ever title. He also played a key role in the club’s run to a cup triumph to earn Mineiro their first ever domestic double.

The 33-year-old, according to earlier reports, held talks with the Gunners in Brazil but had made no decision. However, it now appears that Costa will be disappointing Mikel Arteta as he has chosen elsewhere to continue his career.

Struggling Serie A club Salernitana are the leaders to seal Costa’s signature and reports claim that they are onfident of concluding a deal for the Spaniard this week.

Walter Sabatini told TuttoSalernitana.com: “Diego Costa is a matter still in movement, a miracle could happen, but so far it has not happened.”

Salernitana are currently last in the Italian Serie A with just 10 points from their opening 22 league games – eight points from safety.

Aubameyang excluded from training camp

Back at Arsenal, Aubameyang is still being subjected to humiliating treatment after being dropped from the club’s mid-season training camp in Dubai in favour of Jack Wilshere, who is not contracted to the club – or any club for that matter.

The former Gunners midfielder has been training at Arsenal’s facilities to stay match fit as he looks for a way back into professional football, more than a year after he became a free agent.

Arteta opted to take him along to the club’s training camp in Dubai in the place of Aubameyang, while remaining coy on if Aubameyang will ever regain his place in the squad.

Lyon deny reports of a deal with Newcastle United over Bruno Guimaraes

Olympique Lyonnais has refuted claims that a deal with Newcastle United for 29-year-old midfielder Bruno Guimaraes has been finalised.

The Brazil international has been linked with a move away from Parc OL since the beginning of the season with Arsenal being touted as his next destination. Newcastle United came into the picture recently and tabled a £33.5 million bid to Lyon, which many sources claimed the club accepted.

However, in a short statement on the club’s website, the French club has vehemently denied all the reports of a deal being struck for the midfielder between both clubs.

The club wrote, on Wednesday, in a statement on their website: “Olympique Lyonnais categorically denies the false information disseminated by many media reporting an agreement between Newcastle and OL for the transfer of Brazilian international midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.

“In this transfer window period where the slightest rumor is often presented as reality, Olympique Lyonnais reminds that only information officially released by the club is to be taken into consideration.”

Earlier reports from multiple sources claimed that the club had accepted the bid from the Magpies, who are pushing for multiple reinforcements ahead under their new Saudi-backed owners. The club from Tyneside have already spent over £30 million to sign Kieran Trippier from Atlético de Madrid and Chris Wood from Burnley.

More signings are expected in the middle of the park for Newcastle, which led to the club tabling a bid for the Arsenal-linked Guimaraes. The sources confirmed that Guimaraes is open to leaving Lyon, which could have led to the media reports – now debunked as rumours by Lyon – making the rounds earlier on Wednesday.

Guimaraes: We play like robots in France

Guimaraes signed for Lyon on a four-year deal from Brazilian side Atletico Paranaense in January 2020. However, his latest comments on his time in France suggests that he is ready to jump ship.

In an interview with Globo Esporte shared on Monday, Guimaraes suggested that his talent is being stifled in Ligue 1.

“In France, there are moments where we play like robots, nobody tries to dribble, to find a pass, for example,” he said.

“That irritates me sometimes, it is a bit frustrating. I think that those who have talent should profit from that, try to dribble, try to link moves. If you do that, your game will be complete.”

He went on to add: “My objective at Lyon is to be champion… We are doing well in the Europa League, a competition that we have begun well in. Ligue 1 is very difficult.”

However, with the latest developments from the Lyon camp, it is safe to say that there will be no immediate jumping of ship for the Brazilian, who was even reported to be undergoing a medical in Brazil ahead of the supposed move to Newcastle.

Guimaraes has made 25 appearances in all competitions for Lyon this season, registering six assists.

Barcelona transfer update: Catalans want Meunier; Mingueza transfer deal reached with French club

It has been a busy period for Barcelona who have been making moves to get out of the financial rut caused by the past leadership of the club.

The Catalan giants have reportedly signed the biggest shirt sponsorship deal in football history and are also trying to sell a number of their players as they seek to free up their wage bill and raise the money needed to sign Erling Haaland.

There are some untouchables within the club despite the interest from a number of clubs. As for those on the club’s transfer list, here are two of the latest stories concerning transfer happenings at the club. to come out of Barcelona.

Barcelona looking to sea Dest with Borussia Dortmund’s Meunier

Barcelona have reportedly approached Borussia Dortmund for their 30-year-old right back, Thomas Meunier, in a deal that could see Sergiño Dest move to the Westfalenstadion.

Dest started the season under Ronald Koeman superbly as one of the best creators in the La Liga. However, since the Dutchman’s sack and the appointment of Xavi, opportunities have been few and in between for the American, who has also had to battle fitness issues and COVID.

Barcelona is now looking to offload him with veteran right back Dani Alves back at the Camp Nou as well as for cash flow reasons. Chelsea and Bayern Munich were interested in the right back, but both clubs have cooled their interest. Journalist Gerard Romero now reports that Barcelona have approached Dortmund to swap Dest for Meunier.

Meunier joined BVB in the summer of the 2020/21 season and struggled to fit into the club. This season, however, he has found his footing and is now an important player for the Germans. His numbers are similar to Dest’s this season, but his age could come into play for the Germans who pride themselves in fielding young talents as they consider Barcelona’s offer for a swap deal for Dest.

Barcelona look to bring in around €30 million for Dest, who is not ready to call it quits on Camp Nou.

Barcelona accept bid from French club for Oscar Mingueza 

Oscar Mingueza broke into the Barcelona team under Koeman but has failed to secure a spot in the squad since Xavi’s appointment. Now on the fringes of the club, Barcelona is looking to cash out on their La Masia talent.

Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo reports that Barcelona have reached an agreement with the Ligue 1 side, Bordeaux, for the transfer of Mingueza. Mingueza, however, is not interested in moving to France and has refused to accept the move.

The club also has offers for Mingueza from Germany and other LaLiga clubs which seem more likely for the player, who Barcelona hope to loan out instead of outrightly sell.

The club will take any permanent transfer offers for the 22-year-old if the price is right, however.

Arsenal defender open to quitting club after playing zero games since 2019

Arsenal defender on loan at Olympique de Marseille, William Saliba, is open to making his loan move permanent in the summer, according to reports.

Saliba signed for Arsenal from Saint-Etienne in 2019 to much fanfare as the Gunners touted him as one for the future. However, the 20-year-old defender is yet to make his debut for the club, having only been fielded in two different pre-season games before the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons.

Two loan spells later, Saliba is now showing the level that made him attractive to most top clubs in the year he signed for Arsenal. The young defender is now open to remaining in Ligue 1 with Marseille for more playing time, as he has become a key figure in the centre of the club’s defence.

Marseille, however, will have to fulfill one condition to be able to keep Saliba beyond this season: they will have to qualify for the UEFA Champions League. The top three Ligue 1 teams every season qualify for the tournament with the first two going straight into the group stages and the third placed team having to duke it out in the playoffs.

Marseille currently sit in third place on 40 points with a game in hand and have conceded the least goals in the league (16) as well as kept the most clean sheets. Saliba has been a key part of this achievement with his impressive defensive abilities.

Barring any change of fortunes for the club, Saliba could get his wish of playing Champions League football with Marseille and Arsenal will be subjected to another loss in a time of talent scarcity.

Arteta: Saliba in Arsenal’s long-term plans

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, in September 2021, told journalists that Saliba is in Arsenal’s long-term plans, despite the club spending a combined £70 million on defensive signings Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu in the summer window of the 2021/22 season.

Speaking to journalists in September, Arteta said: “He will come back for pre-season and he will be with us. Hopefully he will come back after playing a number of games and his performance raising and his development progressing in the right way. That’s why we made that decision.

“I know that sometimes it’s difficult to explain or understand after the money that the club has spent trying to bring him in, to send him on loan.”

Arteta may get his wish to count on Saliba next season as Marseille is currently battling a FIFA transfer ban which could prevent them from signing any players, including Saliba, to a permanent deal.

The French club got slapped with a ban for signing Senegal international Pape Gueye after the player signed a pre-contract agreement with Watford. The ban has been appealed and Marseille are waiting to know their fate from the Court of Arbitration for Sport, where the case is being judged.

Arsenal offered Luka Jovic loan signing opportunity

Elsewhere, Arsenal have been offered the chance to sign Luka Jovic from Real Madrid on a loan deal, according to reports.

The Gunners have officially been dealt a blow by long-term striker target Dusan Vlahovic, who has made it clear that he wants to stay in the Serie A. Juventus have reportedly tabled a mega money bid for the striker, ending all hopes of an improved bid from Arsenal.

Arteta, desperate to bring in a new striker before the transfer window closes next Monday, has now been offered Vlahovic’s countryman, Jovic as a short term solution to his striker problems at the club.

24-year-old Jovic continues to struggle for game time at Madrid. The former Eintracht Frankfurt striker has not made a single league start this season for Los Blancos, and is reportedly open to leaving the Santiago Bernabeu after an uneventful four seasons at the club.

Emmanuel Adebayor shares opinion on Aubameyang-Arsenal row

Emmanuel Adebayor has slammed his former club Arsenal for “never learning” amid the issues surrounding Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been ostracised from the Arsenal squad after a reported disciplinary issue which was later revealed to be the striker returning a day late from a sanctioned trip abroad to visit his sick mother.

As a result, Aubameyang – who had already been reprimanded by the club for a prior disciplinary issue – was ostracised from the squad and forced to train alone. The 32-year-old striker hoped to find his form again playing in the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon but COVID prevented him from being fielded until he was sent back to North London to recover.

Now back at Arsenal, it is the same story all over again for the former Borussia Dortmund man. Aubameyang’s Arsenal days are numbered and there appears to be now way out for him.

Emmanuel Adebayor, who himself had a big issue with the club in his playing days leading to the Premier League’s most infamous celebration, has weighed in on the issue.

Adebayor left the North London club for Manchester City in 2009 in an unceremonious manner. In his first game against Arsenal after he left, he scored and ran the full length of the pitch to celebrate in a gloating manner in front of the visiting Arsenal fans.

Former Togo striker Adebayor, who also went on to join Arsenal’s bitter rivals Tottenham, said to Sky on the Aubameyang issue: “I know he’s going to go through a lot because that’s Arsenal for you. They never learn, they never know how to forgive so I know he’s going through a lot

“But he’s a good player, he’s a strong player and a fantastic player so I wish him all the best.

“I’ve sent him a message already and I wish him well and hope that he bounces back because, whether we like it or not, he’s our African brother and we want to keep representing African football the way he was doing before the problem.”

No way back for Aubameyang at Arsenal, Adebayor claims

Aubameyang, 32, is Arsenal’s top earner on £350,000-a-week and has already been placed on the transfer list. Two lucrative offers are reportedly on the table from Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia and Paris Saint-Germain, but the Gunners hierarchy are yet to make any moves on these reported offers.

This could mean Aubameyang will remain in the squad as an outcast if he doesn’t leave in the January window. When asked whether there was a way back for the Gabonese striker, Adebayor said: “At Arsenal, I don’t think so. This is what I knew.

“It happened to me also. Not in the same way. But in Arsenal way back. I would be surprised but let’s see what happens. He’s a great player so let’s see how it ends up.”

Arsenal are currently struggling for goals and with their most prolific striker now a stranger, are looking for reinforcements. Key target Dusan Vlahovic has reportedly refused the chance to play in North London, and now they have set their sights on Real Sociedad’s Alexander Isak.

AFCON Update: Stampede kills six, injures 40 in Cameroon knockout game

An unfortunate stampede which killed six fans occurred as the hosts of the 33rd African Cup of Nations, Cameroon, battled Comoros for a spot in the quarter finals.

Five-time AfCON winners Cameroon are looking to secure their sixth title at home in front of their football loving compatriots and this overzealousness led to a stampede occurring in the Indomitable Lions round of 16 game against debutants Comoros.

40 people including children were injured and six people have been pronounced dead in the stampede as a large crowd tried to force their way into the Olembe stadium in the country’s capital Yaounde to see Cameroon play Comoros.

The Olembe stadium is a 60,000 capacity stadium but COVID-19 restrictions mean that the grounds will have to restrict its capacity to 80 percent of its total. Fans, however, we’re having none of it and over 50,000 tried to gain access into the grounds, leading to the stampede.

Yaounde authorities have also come out to say that the casualty numbers could be more as news continues to come out about the stampede.

Regional governor Naseri Paul Biya said that there could be more casualties as news continues to filter out on the emergency.

CAF statement on the Stampede

The Confederation of African Football (CAF), has come out with a statement concerning the stampede.

The statement reads: “CAF is aware of the incident that took place at Olembe Stadium during the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations fixture between hosts Cameroon and Comoros tonight, 24 January 2022.

“CAF is currently investigating the situation and trying to get more details on what transpired. We are in constant communication with Cameroon government and the Local Organizing Committee.

“Tonight, the CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe sent the General Secretary, Veron Mosengo-Omba to visit the supporters in hospital in Yaounde.”

Malawi boss hits out at AfCON LOC

Elsewhere, the manager of the Malawian national team Mario Marinica has slammed the local organising committee of the African Cup of Nations for perceived bias against the smaller teams.

Malawi are in their first ever knockout rounds of the AfCON tournament after qualifying from Group B as one of the best third placed teams and will be facing Morocco on Tuesday. However, manager Marinica has claimed that the circumstances in which his team have been living is affecting their overall preparation for games.

“You wouldn’t see Sadio Mane washing his own underpants and hanging them on a bush to dry,” Marinica said to ESPN. “Gambia have the same problem, and there are different standards here, teams are being treated differently.

“Certain questions have to be asked; why are these things happening to us, why only to the smaller teams, why only to Comoros, Gambia, us?

“I couldn’t have milk for coffee, they said the milk was finished until tomorrow. We are treated like second-class citizens, but if you’re a hotel manager and you see this happening, you take charge, you can’t allow it in this day and age, at this level of competition.”

Marinica also hit out at the officiating in the tournament, which has seen some questionable calls being made.

“Honesty on the pitch is important,” he said. “The referee in the last match played a huge part in our draw with Senegal, where we had a clear-cut penalty, the player was pushed, pulled and the referee gave nothing.

“Later, the ref gave offside when he should have played advantage, it’s as though we are second-rate citizens.”

Malawi midfielder John Banda backed up his manager’s claims. “Our clothes haven’t been washed, it’s true, and we’re facing some problems. It’s unfortunate that we’re being taken as underdogs,” he said.

“As Africa, we need to be treated equally, the same as Senegal, Nigeria, all equally. This is a competition, no teams are guaranteed they will win it, and we all need equal treatment and fairness.”

Anthony Martial to leave Manchester United for Sevilla on loan

Sevilla have finally succeeded in snapping up Anthony Martial on loan from Manchester United.

After initially blocking the Frenchman’s move to Sevilla earlier in the January transfer window, Manchester United have now come to an agreement with the Andalusian club that will see Anthony Martial move to Spain for the rest of the 2021/22 season.

The Frenchman had made his decision on his United future clear as early as December and Sevilla were the first club to make contact. However, the unwillingness of the Spanish side to take on the 26-year-old’s full wages led to the move being blocked and Martial suffering a little more in the background at Old Trafford.

In that time, an unlikely report about a swap deal with Barcelona for Ousmane Dembele started making the rounds as well as news about a few other clubs inquiring about the former AS Monaco striker. Martial now has his move completed, as he seeks more playing time ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar this December.

Martial will now join the LaLiga side – who will pay his wages in full in exchange for paying no loan fee to United – until the end of the season.

Martial will fly to Seville from Paris on Tuesday to undergo a medical at Sevilla, with a view of making his LaLiga debut after the international break.

Ronaldo’s arrival the final nail in Martial’s United career coffin

Martial became the world’s most expensive teenager when he joined United from AS Monaco in 2015. He had a blistering start to life at Old Trafford, making the Ballon d’Or clause inserted in his contract look like a stroke of genius from his former club.

The Frenchman has since slowed down astronomically due to injuries, problems with staff, and coaches preferring other players in his position. Now Martial, who has 79 goals in 269 total appearances for the club to date, has completely fallen out of favour.

This is due to the signings of Jadon Sancho, Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani, as well as the emergence of Mason Greenwood last season. Martial has started just four games for United this season.

European football expert Tom Williams spoke to Sky Sports Transfer Talk podcast about why Martial has been unable to hold down a first-team place at Old Trafford. He opines that Ronaldo’s signing affected his United chances the most.

“There are various reasons for him not having hit the heights that United would have hoped. There’s been a lot of instability since he came to the club. He’s played under four different managers, not all of whom have been his biggest fans – you think notoriously of Jose Mourinho.

“There’s obviously competition for places at United. I think one of the things that perhaps gets overlooked a bit is how unfortunate Marcus Rashford’s emergence has been for Martial, because they’re such similar players. But also you’ve got Mason Greenwood, you’ve got (Edinson) Cavani and now Cristiano Ronaldo.

“He obviously needs to move. Ronaldo arriving was probably the death knell for his United career as the first-choice centre-forward. You suspect that, for both parties, the best thing is for him to move on.”

Liverpool need to keep winning to catch Man City, Klopp says

Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp is choosing to focus on his team’s games and making sure they win every remaining game in the league as they chase defending champions and table toppers Manchester City.

Jürgen Klopp’s team currently sit in second place with a game in hand on 48 points, nine away from Manchester City. Their latest 3-1 win away to Crystal Palace, although controversial, saw their goal tally rise to 58, making them the team who have scored the most goals in the league this season, three ahead of City who have 55.

This shows that they’re no slouches in front of goal with or without their top scorer Mohamed Salah, who is currently away in Cameroon for the African Cup of Nations with Egypt. However, their defending needs some more work as they have conceded more than City to earn them three extra draws more than the defending champions.

Meanwhile, City is currently on a 13-game unbeaten streak to keep their lead at the top of the table and like the Sky Blues’ boss, Klopp wants his team to keep winning.

The current situation at the top of the table has led to talks of the title race being blown wide open again after Liverpool reduced the gap, but Klopp insisted to journalists who asked for his opinion on the issue that they are taking things one game at a time.

He said: “No. The distance is too far to talk about it but we don’t have to. We just need to win football matches.

“Each Premier League game is difficult like we saw today. We made it more exciting than necessary! We will see what happens in the final few months.”

Liverpool cannot control what City do, says Klopp

Pep Guardiola has always maintained that all Manchester City can do is to remain focused on each game and not lose their heads. He has also, like Klopp, previously stated that his side cannot think of Liverpool’s chase of their top spot.

The German manager reiterated his Spanish counterpart in a pre-match interview with Sky Sports just before the Palace game, stating expressly that Liverpool cannot control what City does.

“The problem is not the situation, the problem is that you ask about it to be honest. What is our situation? It’s 11 points with one game in hand?

“I could sit here and say ‘I can swear we’ll get them’. That would be really crazy, yeah? But if I would sit here and say that we don’t even try, it would be crazy as well.

“The only thing we can do is winning football games. We cannot wait for a slip, we cannot really influence a slip of City. The only thing we can do is influence our performance. So I thought it’s a good idea to do exactly that. So just win as many as you can.

“This group did it, two or three years ago, we won the last 15 games. It was never easy. We needed last-second goals, we needed all these kind of things. At Newcastle, Divock’s shoulder and that’s what we needed then.

“Nobody knows what will happen but we will try and win as many football games as possible. That’s very necessary because one spot will become champion. Three more qualify for the Champions League.

“We have to win anyway, an awful lot of football games and that is exactly what we’ll try. And then we will see where we end up.”

Ter Stegen and Donnarumma swap deal being touted by Barcelona to PSG

Spanish transfer website Fichajes.net have reported that Barcelona are interested in Paris Saint-Germain shotstopper Gianluigi Donnarumma and are ready to offer Marc-Andre Ter Stegen in exchange.

The website reports that Donnarumma is one of the Catalan club’s key summer transfer targets but the club’s hierarchy consider the financial implications of his signing to be too much to bear, hence the proposal of a swap with Ter Stegen.

Ter Stegen has been with Barcelona since 2014 and has won major honours with the club. He was once regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world in his time at Barcelona but since his battle with injuries began in 2018, he has failed to replicate the performances that saw him get those accolades.

Barcelona have stuck with him, however, even to the detriment of other great goalkeeping prospects. However, with the German approaching 30 years of age, it seems like the Catalan club is ready to move on from him.

Donnarumma, regarded currently as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, is the Blaugrana’s choice. The 22-year-old has amassed almost a decade of goalkeeping experience at the highest level despite being only 22 years. Now with PSG, his incredibly fast-paced career trajectory seems to have slowed down and the Italian is unhappy with the situation.

He is in a rotation mix with PSG’s other shotstopper, former Real Madrid man Keylor Navas. The Italian international has started about half the games played by PSG this season while Navas has started the other half. Both have been impressive in between the sticks for the Parisiens, making it difficult to pick a starting goalkeeper between the two.

Donnarumma, who has kept six clean sheets in 13 matches across all competitions for PSG wants the spot and his unhappiness at the rotation has caught Barcelona’s attention. The Catalan giants are happy to make him their number 1 starting next season.

Fichajes also reports that Donnarumma is keen on the move to Spain. Laporta’s good relationship with Donnarumma’s agent, Mino Raiola, could also come good for the club to help seal a deal in the summer.

Ter Stegen’s stance on the move, as well as PSG’s, remain unclear, however.

Ajax left-back Tagliafico keen on Barcelona move

Argentina and Ajax Amsterdam left-back Nicolas Tagliafico could be Barcelona’s next defensive reinforcement as the 29-year-old is reportedly keen on joining up with the Catalan club in the January window.

Barcelona only have youngster Alejandro Balde as Jordi Alba’s left-back alternative. The veteran left-back has now become prone to injuries and his performances have dipped, and the inexperience of his understudy Balde has forced the club to sometimes turn to right-back Sergiño Dest and utility centre back Oscar Mingueza to fill in the position.

Tagliafico fits the bill the Catalans have for the role and reports from Spain claim they are willing to get a deal done for his signature.

Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has said that the Copa America winner is doing all he can to make the move happen, even asking Ajax to let him leave on an initial loan deal.

However, Ajax only want to sell and Barcelona cannot afford anything but a loan deal, making the possibility of a January move less likely.

Real Madrid and Barcelona agree pact to not interfere with player contracts

Marca reports that Real Madrid and Barcelona have come to an agreement to keep each other’s hands away from the other’s players, especially when they are discussing contract renewals.

Madrid and Barcelona both represent the biggest footballing rivalry in Spain and in world club football. They compete in almost every aspect both on and off the pitch and sometimes, the competition has not been friendly.

From trying to and succeeding in poaching each other’s players, to sabotaging potential transfers, or signing deals with competitor brands, both clubs have done everything to keep the fires of their age long rivalry burning. Both clubs have even been rumoured to have influenced awards in favour of their teams and their players.

They, however, maintain a mutual respect for each other and have also come together to effect change in Spanish football and to call for changes in UEFA’s day to day running of football. The current presidents of both clubs, Joan Laporta of Barcelona and Florentino Perez of Real Madrid especially have a deep respect for each other.

Both presidents are very much aware that decisions made by their clubs could affect the other and in order to keep their status as two of the world’s biggest footballing institutions, are always in talks with each other.

These talks between Laporta and Perez have led to the more recent European Super League which, despite the kickback from clubs, fans, pundits, UEFA and FIFA, they continue to discuss. Both clubs are also currently at the forefront of a management battle with LaLiga’s bosses as concerns the running of the league.

Their latest talks, according to Marca, have now seen both clubs come to an agreement to respect the contracts of each other’s players.

Agreement only about current Barcelona and Madrid players, reports say

Laporta and Perez have a gentleman’s agreement on the issue and both clubs now understand that. Rumours claim that Madrid’s reported pursuit of Ronald Araujo, who Barcelona are trying to get to put pen-to-paper on a new contract, led to the talks being held.

However, both clubs are free to go after each other’s former players or players who did not sign extensions and let their old contracts run out. The talks between both presidents also didn’t cover going after the same players in a transfer window, which is one of the ways both clubs exert dominance over the other in order to boost their rivalry.

There has been a verbal agreement Perez and Laporta to not interfere with players on the other side who are still under contract. Players who are out of contract are another story, of course, and are fair game if one of the pair decides to pursue them.

Both clubs have almost always been interested in the same players, and the current player of interest between both clubs is Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland. Barca president Laporta is reported to be willing to do anything to sign Haaland and both clubs are also willing to do everything to prevent the other from joining their rivals even if it means Haaland choosing another of his suitors.

Benzema suffers injury in draw with Elche; had home attacked during the game

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema left the club’s LaLiga match against Elche in the 58th minute with a discomfort and will miss the Copa del Rey’s quarter final match against Athletic Club Bilbao as a result.

News outlet ABC has reported it as a hamstring injury which should take less time to heal, but reports also that the striker will do all he can to be ready for the crucial UEFA Champions League round of 16 fixture against Paris Saint-Germain in February.

As a result, Benzema will miss Madrid’s next three matches – the quarter final match against Athletic Club Bilbao and two LaLiga games against Villarreal and Granada.

The injury was not the worst of it for Benzema on Sunday night, as he found out after leaving the pitch in the 58th minute that his home was broken into by burglars.

Spanish outlet 20 minutos reports that the burglars broke into Benzema’s home when it was empty and carted away some of his belongings. This is the second time Benzema’s home has been robbed while he was on duty for Madrid; the first time being in 2019 when he was playing against Barcelona in an El Clasico match.