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☆ Lionel Messi: Paper napkin ‘contract’ to seal move to FC Barcelona heads to auction with a $380,000 starting bid
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The paper napkin containing the agreement which saw Lionel Messi join FC Barcelona will go to auction with a starting price of $380,000 (£300,000). Together with Rexach, Minguella helped organize Messi’s initial audition with the Blaugrana in September 2000. On December 14, Rexach, Minguella and Gaggioli met for lunch at the Pompeia tennis club to sign the napkin. “Yes, it’s a paper napkin, but it’s the famous napkin that was at the inception of Lionel Messi’s career. It changed the life of Messi, the future of FC Barcelona, and was instrumental in giving some of the most glorious moments of football to billions of fans around the globe.”

Persons: Lionel Messi, Messi, Carles Rexach, Minguella, Horacio, ” Rexach, Horacio Gaggioli, Josep Minguella, Rexach, Gaggioli, Joan Gaspart –, – Messi, ” Ian Ehling, “, Lionel Messi’s Organizations: CNN, FC Barcelona, Messi, Barcelona, Camp, La Liga, Bonhams Locations: Barcelona, Argentine, York

☆ Western lithium, graphite miners boost prices for ESG-friendly supply
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Ernest Scheyder | Thomson Reuters | Ernest Scheyder Is An Award-Winning Senior Correspondent Covering The Green Energy Transition | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLOS ANGELES, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Western lithium and graphite miners have started charging the electric vehicle (EV) supply chain higher prices for their material, meeting demand for environmentally-friendly and consistent supply that is not linked to China. Lithium, the lightest metal, is used to make a battery's positively charged cathode and prized for its ability to store energy. Miners say the surcharges make investors more comfortable financing new projects, especially as Chinese rivals have been known to sell metals below prevailing market rates. Brazil's Sigma Lithium (SGML.V) has already begun selling its production at prices it says reflects its sustainability. The surcharge talk comes despite recent plunges in a range of lithium prices.

Persons: Ivan Alvarado, Patrice Boulanger, Shaun Verner, Amanda Hall, surcharges, Hugues Jacquemin, Ernest Scheyder, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Washington, China, EV, Panasonic Energy, Miners, Syrah Resources, Department of Energy, Tesla, ESG, Summit, Thomson Locations: Antofagasta region, Chile, China, Los Angeles, Brussels, Beijing, North America, United States, Louisiana, North, South America, Quebec

☆ Injury doubts haunt Barcelona ahead of Saturday's Clasico against Real Madrid
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Xavi had to call up eight academy players for their Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday, as the Catalonian side grapple with injuries to eight key players, including Polish striker Robert Lewandowski. Barca secured a hard-fought 2-1 win against Shakhtar thanks to a brilliant display by 20-year-old Fermin Lopez, who is becoming a regular in the first team. It's a match in which we need to be at 100%," Xavi told a press conference on Wednesday. Real lead the LaLiga standings, level with Girona, the surprise package of the season so far, on 25 points from 10 games. Barcelona are third on 24 points, two ahead of Atletico Madrid, who have a game in hand.

Persons: FC Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski, Pedro Nunes, Xavi Hernandez, Xavi, Robert Lewandowski, Barca, Fermin Lopez, Frenkie De Jong, Jules Kounde, Pedri, Sergi Roberto, Raphinha, Joao Felix, It's, Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao, Arda Gueler, Englishman Jude Bellingham, Carlo Ancelotti, Fernando Kallas, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Soccer Football, FC Porto, FC Barcelona, Estadio, FC Barcelona's, REUTERS, Rights, Real Madrid, El, Champions League, Shakhtar Donetsk, Shakhtar, Lewandowski, El Clasico, Barca, Borussia Dortmund, Braga, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Thomson Locations: Porto, Portugal, Rights BARCELONA, Barcelona, Catalonian, Camp Nou, Portuguese, Girona

☆ Lamine Yamal: Barcelona’s teenage star is ‘touched by the wand of God’
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Now, after a record-breaking year, almost everyone in world soccer is aware of Lamine Yamal. In April, at 15 years and 290 days, he became the youngest player to appear in a competitive fixture for the Blaugrana. When his star started to shine, questions were asked about which national team he would choose to represent. Unhelpful comparisonsDealing with such praise and adulation could be tricky for Yamal as he navigates the world of professional soccer. Yamal joined the Barcelona youth ranks at the age of seven, according to FIFA.

Persons: It’s, Yamal, Felipe Mondino, Luis de la Fuente, “, De la Fuente, ”, Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, Barcelona’s, Fati, David Ramos, Pedri, Xavi, ” Xavi, Messi, Ballon Organizations: CNN, Champions League, Borussia Dortmund’s Youssoufa, Spanish national, Georgia, La Liga, Granada, Barcelona, Spanish, Premier League, Brighton, FIFA, ESPN Locations: Barcelona, Spain, Moroccan, Equatorial Guinea, Nou

☆ Nebraska volleyball sets world record for attendance at a women’s sporting event, at above 92,000, school says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Jacob Lev | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Memorial Stadium was the place to be on Wednesday night when the University of Nebraska women’s volleyball team hosted in-state opponent Omaha. The official attendance of 92,003 in Lincoln – at what normally is the university’s football stadium – set the world record for the largest announced crowd at a women’s sporting event, according to the school. “Nebraska has the best fan base in the world, the best volleyball fans in the world,” Albert said before introducing head coach John Cook. “And I was thinking this morning, there’s only three things that shut down the University of Nebraska: 1) snowstorms, 2) Covid, 3) Nebraska volleyball in the stadium. During what the school called “Volleyball Day,” the record-setting crowd gave a roaring ovation to the fourth-ranked Nebraska volleyball team as players walked onto the court.

Persons: Trev Alberts, ” Albert, John Cook, Cook, there’s, ” Cook, wasn’t, Bob Devaney Organizations: CNN —, University of Nebraska women’s, Omaha, Lincoln –, –, UEFA Champions League, Barcelona, Wolfsburg, Camp, University of Nebraska, Nebraska, Rose Bowl, Huskers, Bob Devaney Sports Center, NCAA, Nationwide Arena Locations: Lincoln, Barcelona, Spain, Camp Nou, Nebraska, “ Nebraska, United States, China, Pasadena , California, Wisconsin, Columbus , Ohio

☆ Factbox: Brazil and Al-Hilal forward Neymar
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

* Made 33 appearances and scored 10 goals in his first league season. * Scored 42 goals in 60 appearances in all competitions in 2010 as Santos won the Campeonato Paulista and Copa do Brasil. * Scored six goals in the 2011 Copa Libertadores as Santos won the competition for the first time since 1963. * The following season, Neymar became the fastest in the club's history to reach 50 league goals (58 games), but PSG finished second in Ligue 1. * Neymar scored 118 goals in 173 appearances in all competitions for PSG, winning 13 domestic trophies.

Persons: Neymar, Saudi Arabia's Al, Neymar da Silva Santos Jr, SANTOS, Santos, FIFA Puskas, Dunga, Pele's, Trevor Stynes, Ken Ferris Organizations: Saudi Arabia's, Paris St Germain, Portuguesa Santista, Santos, Real Madrid, Campeonato Paulista, Copa, Brasil, Libertadores, FIFA, Flamengo, South, Barcelona, Supercopa, Atletico Madrid, Barca, Champions League, Juventus, Brazilian, La Liga, Copa del Rey, PSG, UEFA, Manchester United, Rennes, Bayern Munich, Ligue, PSG's, Brazil, Confederations, Colombia, Croatia, Thomson Locations: Hilal, Spain, Barcelona, BARCELONA, Nou, BRAZIL, United States, Brazil, Germany, Belgium

☆ FC Barcelona unit to list in US via $1 bln SPAC deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A silhouette of a woman walks past behind a FC Barcelona's logo at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, March 24, 2016. REUTERS/Albert Gea/File PhotoAug 11 (Reuters) - Spanish soccer club FC Barcelona has agreed to list its content creation unit Barca Media on Nasdaq through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company, valuing the combined entity at $1 billion. The club said on Friday the deal will fetch new capital for Barca Media, a segment that FC Barcelona expects will be "an important source of revenue in the coming years". Barca Media will start trading on Nasdaq after the deal with Mountain & Co I Acquisition Corp (MCAA.O) closes in the last quarter of this year, FC Barcelona said. A special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC), also known as a blank-check company, is a listed entity that merges with a private firm to take it public.

Persons: Albert Gea, Joan Laporta, Lionel Messi, Laporta, Niket Nishant, Pritam Biswas, Krishna Chandra Organizations: FC, Camp Nou, REUTERS, FC Barcelona, Media, Nasdaq, Barca Media, FC Barcelona's, Mountain, Thomson Locations: Barcelona, Spain, Spanish, Bengaluru

☆ Barcelona bank on Gundogan, Lewandowski experience
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BARCELONA, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Barcelona claimed their 27th LaLiga title and first for four years last season led by coach Xavi Hernandez, relying on a mixture of young talent and seasoned veterans like striker Robert Lewandowski who was the league's top scorer. They recruited experienced midfielder Ikay Gundogan, who captained Manchester City to the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League treble last season, ending a successful seven-year stint in England during which he won 12 major trophies. Gundogan will help mentor a young Barca squad as they try to retain the LaLiga crown and get back to winning ways in the Champions League after years of European disappointments. A Barcelona court has agreed to take on the case and UEFA has provisionally cleared the club to compete in this season's Champions League despite ongoing investigations. Reporting by Fernando Kallas, editing by Ed OsmondOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Xavi Hernandez, Robert Lewandowski, Ikay Gundogan, Gundogan, Lionel Messi, Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, Marc, Andre ter Stegen, Gavi, Ronald Araujo, Luuk De Jong, Jules Kounde, Ousmane Dembele, Fernando Kallas, Ed Osmond Organizations: Manchester City, Premier League, FA, League, Champions League, Europa League, Manchester United, Barcelona, UEFA, Nou, Paris St Germain, Getafe, Thomson Locations: BARCELONA, Barcelona, England, Spanish

☆ Joan Laporta: Barcelona president says there are ‘no sporting reasons’ for soccer stars to join Saudi Pro League
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Don Riddell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“Fortunately, most of the players like Football Club Barcelona,” Laporta told CNN Sport’s Don Riddell from Los Angeles during the Spanish team’s pre-season tour of the U.S., which wrapped up on Tuesday against AC Milan in Las Vegas. “And when a player, and with all respect, prefers to go to Saudi Arabia, basically there are no sporting reasons. Last week, Al-Hilal, which is one of four Saudi clubs owned by the PIF, made a world-record bid of over $332 million (300 million euros) for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) striker Kylian Mbappé. “My view is that it’s more important to have the assistance of the clubs, the traditional clubs, specifically the European clubs,” added Laporta. “The priority of last season was the Spanish league and this new season, for us, the league is the priority as well,” said Laporta.

Persons: Joan Laporta, “, ” Laporta, CNN Sport’s Don Riddell, Germain, Kylian Mbappé, Ballon d’Or, Karim Benzema, N’Golo, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy, Roberto Firmino, Jordan Henderson, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo, Hussein Malla, ”, Laporta, Xavi, – Pep Guardiola, Johan Cruyff, Pep, Lionel Messi’s, Jorge Messi, Messi, Cruz Azul, Sam Navarro Organizations: CNN, CNN Sport, Saudi Pro League, Football Club Barcelona, AC Milan, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Saudi, Paris Saint, PSG, Saudi Arabian football, SPL, Al, Gulf state’s, ”, Barcelona, La Liga, Champions League, Spanish League, Liga, Barca, MLS, Inter Miami, Cruz, USA, Sports, Reuters, Camp, Good Locations: Saudi Arabia, Barcelona, Gulf, Los Angeles, Spanish, U.S, Las Vegas, Al, Hilal, Paris, Fabinho, Saudi, Xavi

☆ Inter Miami to sign Barca midfielder Busquets as free agent
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 23 (Reuters) - Barcelona's former Spain midfielder Sergio Busquets is joining Inter Miami as a free agent, the Major League Soccer club announced on Friday. Miami made the news official by posting a video on social media showing quotes from the likes of Pep Guardiola, Xavi Hernandez, Luka Modric and Messi praising Busquets. loadingThe former Barcelona captain, who retired from international duty last year, played over 700 games for the Spanish champions, winning nine LaLiga crowns, seven Copa del Rey titles, three Champions League trophies and three Club World Cups. Busquets was also linked with moves to the Saudi Arabian league as Al Hilal and Al Nassar made bids for his services. Miami are reportedly looking to sign a third former Barca player as they are keen on left-back Jordi Alba, who is also leaving the Spanish club after the end of the season.

Persons: Sergio Busquets, Lionel Messi, Pep Guardiola, Xavi Hernandez, Luka Modric, Messi, Busquets, Al Nassar, Jordi Alba, Janina Nuno Rios, Ken Ferris Organizations: Inter Miami, Major League Soccer, Barca, Copa del Rey, League, Saudi, Al, Spanish, Thomson Locations: Spain, Nou, Miami, Barcelona, Al Hilal, Mexico City

☆ Barcelona to begin LaLiga title defence at Getafe
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MADRID, June 22 (Reuters) - Barcelona will begin their Spanish league title defence away to Getafe on Aug. 13 while Real Madrid visit Athletic Bilbao the same weekend, the Spanish FA (RFEF) said on Thursday. Both teams will meet again at Santiago Bernabeu on matchday 32, on the weekend of April 21, 2024. LaLiga's final weekend could be a high-tension climax to the season, with Barcelona visiting Europa League champions Sevilla, Real Madrid hosting Real Betis and Champions League side Real Sociedad hosting Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid. The Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia will take place between Jan. 10-14 with Barcelona, Real Madrid, Osasuna and Atletico the four participants. The 2023-24 LaLiga season will kick off on Friday, Aug. 11 and will end on Sunday, May 26, 2024.

Persons: Fernando Kallas, Toby Davis Organizations: Getafe, Real Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, Spanish FA, Clasico, Santiago Bernabeu, Europa League, Sevilla, Real Betis, Champions League, Real Sociedad, Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid, Spanish, Osasuna, Atletico, Copa, Rey, La, Thomson Locations: MADRID, Barcelona, Catalan, Saudi Arabia, Real, La Cartuja, Seville

☆ EA's CMO reveals how he'll keep the video game giant's soccer franchise rolling without FIFA branding
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Ryan Joe | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

EA's "FIFA" series is a big revenue driver, but its next soccer video game won't have that branding. CMO David Tinson reveals his plan to drive fans to EA's new soccer franchise EA Sports FC. Electronic Art's marketing muscle is going to have to do some heavy lifting this year to build a new powerhouse brand around its soccer video game series. In 2022, EA and FIFA ended a licensing partnership that lasted nearly three decades and helped make the "FIFA" video game series the most popular sports franchise of all time. This is a key component to making sure fans of the "FIFA" franchise glom onto the new one.

Persons: David Tinson, Andrew Wilson, Tinson, we've, hadn't Organizations: FIFA, EA Sports FC, EA, FC Barcelona's Camp, Manchester United, FC Barcelona, Nike Locations: FC Barcelona's Camp Nou, Real Madrid

☆ Factbox: Graphite producers doing deals with automakers and battery groups
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Tomas Bergman/Handout via REUTERSLONDON, June 21 (Reuters) - Automakers are rushing to lock in graphite supply from outside dominant producer China as mined graphite demand for electric vehicle (EV) batteries outpaces other uses. Below are details of some Western companies producing, or planning to produce graphite, and their deals with auto makers and battery producers. It aims to start annual production at a battery anode plant in Mauritius in 2024 at 3,600 metric tons. SYRAH RESOURCES LTD (SYR.AX)Operates Balama mine in Mozambique, which doubled graphite production to 163,000 metric tons in 2022 from the year before. MAGNIS ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES LTD (MNS.AX)Developing Nachu graphite mine in Tanzania, aiming to produce 236,000 metric tons of graphite concentrate.

Persons: Tomas Bergman, Handout, steelmaker Thyssenkrupp, Talga, Magnis, Tesla, China's, Eric Onstad, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Talga Group, Reuters, REUTERS LONDON, INC, TALGA, Automotive Cells Company, ACC, Stellantis, Mercedes, Benz, Renault, LG Energy, Ford Motor Company, SK, MONDE, Panasonic Energy, Thomson Locations: Norrbotten, Sweden, China, Madagascar, Mauritius, Lulea, Mozambique, U.S ., Louisiana, Tanzania, United States, New York, South Australia, Macquarie, Canada, India, Alabama, Coosa

☆ Lionel Messi’s preferred move would be back to Barcelona, father and agent says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Lionel Messi’s father and agent, Jorge Messi, says his son’s preferred move would be a return to Barcelona during the summer transfer window. Messi’s time at the club ended acrimoniously after PSG suspended him for taking an unauthorized trip abroad, with the Argentine later apologizing. Barça legendNow a move back to the club where Messi turned from schoolboy to sporting legend is on the cards. Under new coach and club legend Xavi, Barcelona this year won its first La Liga title in four years. Lionel Messi's father says his son's preferred move is back to Barcelona.

Persons: Lionel Messi’s, Jorge Messi, Messi, Germain, Jorge, ” Jorge, ” Messi, Xavi, Lionel Messi's, ” Xavi, “, Joan Laporta, he’s, ”, Leo, There’s Organizations: CNN, Paris Saint, PSG, Ligue, Reuters, Saudi, Barcelona, Argentine, League, acrimoniously, Camp, La Liga Locations: Barcelona, Parc des, Al, Hilal, Argentine

☆ Argentina's Messi keen on rejoining Barcelona, says father
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 5 (Reuters) - Lionel Messi, who last week played his last game for Paris St Germain, is open to making a return to LaLiga side Barcelona, the Argentine forward's father said on Monday. Barca were forced to let their talisman leave in 2021 because his high wages coupled with strict LaLiga financial rules could have jeopardised the club's future. We are confident that Leo can come back," Messi's father Jorge said in an interview with Twitch channel Jijantes FC. The United States' Major League Soccer club Inter Miami have also been touted as a possible destination for Messi. Reporting by Aadi Nair in Nashik, India Editing by Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Lionel Messi, Paris St Germain, Barca, Messi, Ronald Araujo, Gavi, Joan Laporta, Leo, Messi's, Jorge, Al Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Aadi Nair, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Paris St, PSG, Barca, Jijantes FC, Messi, Ligue, French, Reuters, Al, Real Madrid, United, Major League Soccer, Inter Miami, Thomson Locations: Barcelona, Argentine, Nou, Argentina, Qatar, Saudi Arabian, Hilal, Saudi Arabia, United States, Nashik, India

☆ Europa League final: Jose Mourinho goes in search of sixth European trophy 20 years after his first triumph
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Sevilla hasn’t earned its ‘King of the Europa League’ moniker for nothing, with those tournament record six triumphs coming from six finals, including a run of four wins in just six years. Jose Mourinho gives instructions to his Porto players ahead of extra time in 2003 UEFA Cup final. Jose Mourinho celebrates after Inter Milan reaches the 2010 Champions League final. “I don’t think of Porto [in] 2003, I don’t think about Roma last season. Should he lead Roma to victory on Wednesday, he will become the first manager to win the Europa League with three different teams.

Persons: Jose Mourinho, Mourinho, Sevilla hasn’t, Ivan Rakitić, José Castro, Jose Manuel Ribeiro, ‘, ’, Pep Guardiola’s, Ben Radford, “, ” Mourinho, I’m, “ I’ve, ”, Roma, Riccardo De Luca, Roma’s, eason Organizations: CNN, AS Roma, Europa League, Sevilla, UEFA, Porto, Manchester United, Reuters, Real, Real Madrid, ‘ Sevilla, Tottenham, Inter Milan, Guardiola’s, Camp, Champions League, Bayer Leverkusen, Roma, Serie, League, Europa Conference League, Anadolu Agency, Conference League, Wednesday, oma Locations: Budapest, Hungary, Rome, Barcelona, Portuguese, Porto, England, Eternal

☆ Lionel Messi: What next for arguably the greatest player in history?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —After helping Paris Saint-Germain win its 11th Ligue 1 title at the weekend, Lionel Messi has some thinking to do. While Messi struggled with injury during his first season in Paris, he still managed to show flashes of his brilliance. Earlier this year, Messi’s long-term rival Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Saudi club Al Nassr for an eye-watering sum of money, perhaps paving the way for other superstars to follow suit. “I think money is always a factor in human decision making,” Mora y Araujo said, amid reports Saudi club Al Hilal was targeting Messi’s signature. Despite an array of world class talent, PSG has failed to win the Champions League with Messi.

☆ FC Barcelona: How Xavi's defensive revolution brought La Liga title back to Catalunya
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Such has been the Blaugrana’s dominance this season, Xavi’s side clinched the trophy with four games still remaining and his iteration will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest defensive teams in La Liga history. With only 13 goals conceded so far this season, Xavi’s Barcelona is set to obliterate that record. “Not only for me, but for the club and for all Barcelona fans it’s very important to win La Liga,” Barça striker Robert Lewandowski told CNN Sport ahead of the match against Espanyol. I think the first round [of fixtures] was very important, we proved that we can think about winning La Liga. Barcelona fans celebrate Sunday's La Liga success -- the club's first league title since the 2018-19 season.

☆ LaLiga in the bag, but Barcelona still face huge problems
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BARCELONA, May 14 (Reuters) - Barcelona may have won the LaLiga title on Sunday, but their outstanding domestic campaign has been somewhat overshadowed by turmoil off the pitch including deepening financial problems and a refereeing scandal that could drag on for years. Spanish prosecutors in March filed a complaint over alleged payments Barcelona made from 2001 to 2018 totalling 7.3 million euros ($8 million) to firms owned by former refereeing official Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira. A Barcelona court has agreed to take on the case. Also in March, European soccer's governing body UEFA opened its own formal investigation into the club, looking into the same payments. FINANCIAL HEADACHESAnd it comes at a time when Barcelona are already facing huge accounting problems related to their massive wage bill, to the COVID-19 pandemic and to the club's 1.6 billion-euro renovation project.

☆ Busquets to leave Barcelona at end of season
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] Soccer Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Getafe - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - January 22, 2023 FC Barcelona's Sergio Busquets holds the Spanish Super Cup trophy aloft before the match... Read moreMay 10 (Reuters) - Barcelona defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets will leave the club at the end of this season after spending 18 years with the Catalan outfit, the team said on Wednesday. Busquets, 34, began his youth career at Barcelona in 2005 before making his first-team debut in 2008. He helped Barcelona win eight LaLiga titles, seven Copa del Rey titles, three Champions League trophies and three Club World Cups. He could add another league title to his achievements this season, with Barcelona leading the points table by 13 points with five games remaining. A report on Spanish TV show El Chiringuito de Jugones said that Busquets has accepted an offer by Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal along with Lionel Messi.

☆ LaLiga loss shrinks as ticket revenues recover after pandemic
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LaLiga expects the current season to produce a net profit of just below 30 million euros, "still far from levels reached in the pre-COVID years", with revenues adding a little over 1%. COVID restrictions hit ticket sales and player transactions in 2020-21, leading to the Spanish league's first loss since 2012. Revenues reached almost 4.84 billion euros in 2021-22, landing just short of the record of nearly 5.07 billion in 2019-20. However, the amount of money spent on infrastructure jumped to 430 million euros, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. Last month, the club secured a financing deal worth 1.45 billion euros with 20 investors, including Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan, after having renegotiated the initial terms.

☆ Wolfsburg sinks Arsenal with late goal in front of record crowd for a women's club game in England
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Wolfsburg earned a spot in the Women’s Champions League final with a 3-2 victory against Arsenal in front of a record English domestic crowd thanks to Pauline Bremer’s goal in the final minutes of extra time. Playing in front of 60,063 fans at the Emirates Stadium – a record crowd for a domestic women’s game in England – Arsenal was without several key players through injury and battled bravely against the two-time European champion. I’m super happy to be in the final.”Wolfsburg will now face Barcelona in the Dutch city of Eindhoven on June 3 after the Spanish side defeated Chelsea in the other Champions League semifinal. Adam Davy/APThe sellout crowd at the Emirates, however, did see Arsenal make one piece of history on Monday, passing last year’s FA Cup for the biggest crowd in women’s domestic football. The world record for a women’s game is 91,648 at the Camp Nou in Barcelona for last year’s Champions League semifinal between Barça and Wolfsburg.

☆ Real Madrid's Modric a doubt for Copa del Rey final
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/4] Soccer Football - Copa del Rey - Semi Final - Second Leg - FC Barcelona v Real Madrid - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - April 5, 2023 Real Madrid's Luka Modric during the match REUTERS/Albert GeaApril 28 (Reuters) - Real Madrid's Luka Modric has suffered a thigh injury, and the veteran midfielder could be a doubt for their Copa del Rey final against Osasuna on May 6, manager Carlo Ancelotti said on Friday. Modric, 37, played a little over an hour in Real's 4-2 defeat by Girona over the weekend before he was substituted. Real will be looking to win the Copa del Rey for the 20th time. "It's pending evolution and we don't know if he will be fit for the Copa match. They currently sit second in LaLiga, 11 points behind leaders Barcelona after 31 games and two points ahead of Atletico Madrid.

☆ Barcelona reaches third straight Women’s Champions League final with draw against Chelsea
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Barcelona reached its third straight Women’s Champions League final with a 1-1 draw against Chelsea on Thursday, ensuring the Spanish club advanced 2-1 on aggregate. “In the second half I knew that it was a tense situation but also a dangerous one because one slip from us could have let Chelsea level the tie. In what was a rematch of the 2021 Women’s Champions League final in which Barcelona comfortably beat Chelsea 4-0, Thursday’s game was a much tighter affair, with both sides having good chances. Felipe Mondino/LiveMedia/ShutterstockBut Reiten’s leveler ensured a nervy final 20 minutes, but Chelsea was unable to find that illusive goal. Especially second half, I thought we were the better team.

☆ Barcelona scrapes by Atlético Madrid 1-0 to remain in firm control of La Liga title race
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( Patrick Sung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —FC Barcelona scraped by Atlético Madrid 1-0 at the Camp Nou to extend its lead at the top of La Liga over eternal rival Real Madrid to 11 points. Ferrán Torres’ goal in the 44th minute made the difference, ensuring Atlético continued its 17-year winless drought – with 8 draws and 15 losses – at the Camp Nou. Antoine Griezmann was Atlético's main offensive threat, but he was thwarted by the crossbar and Marc-André ter Stegen twice. Just when Barça’s domination of possession in the first half seemed to be fruitless, the first goal materialized near the stroke of half-time. The win means Barcelona remains in firm control in the La Liga title race with eight matches remaining and an 11-point lead ahead of Real Madrid.

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