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☆ Barcelona manager Xavi announces he will leave Spanish giant at end of season
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Ben Morse | Homero De La Fuente | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Barcelona manager Xavi announced on Saturday that he will leave the club at the end of the season. Speaking after the team’s 5-3 home defeat to Villarreal, Xavi said that he will depart on June 30 following the conclusion of the La Liga season. “I think the situation needs to change course, and as a ‘culer’, I cannot allow the current situation,” the 44-year-old told reporters, referencing the colloquial name for Barcelona fans. After Saturday’s loss, Barcelona sits in third place in the La Liga table and is 10 points behind league-leaders Real Madrid. Xavi led Barcelona to the La Liga title in his first full season in charge in 2022-23 and recently signed a two-year contract extension to remain as manager.

Persons: Xavi, …, ” Xavi, Al Organizations: CNN —, Villarreal, La Liga, Barcelona, Liga, Real Madrid, Spanish, Athletic Bilbao, Copa del Rey, Champions League, Napoli, Leagues, Al, Sadd SC Locations: CNN — Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalan, Sadd

☆ Barcelona crashes out of the Copa del Rey in extra time, La Liga leader Girona also knocked out
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Samuel Joseph | Sam Joseph | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Barcelona suffered its second disappointing cup defeat in as many weeks on Wednesday, falling to a 4-2 quarterfinal away loss against Athletic Bilbao in extra time. The 16-year-old set a Copa del Rey record in the process, becoming the youngest player this century to score in the competition. Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty ImagesAn upset for the La Liga leadersThis season’s surprise package in Spanish football has been Girona, which is mounting the unlikeliest of title challenges in only the club’s fourth season of La Liga football. However, the Blanquivermells will not get the chance to do the league and cup double after losing 3-2 to Mallorca on Wednesday. Mallorca, which sits 14 places and over 30 points behind Girona in La Liga, raced into a 3-0 lead at home inside the first half to stun the league leaders.

Persons: Iñaki, Nico Williams, Iñaki Williams, “, Xavi, Ander Gillenea, Gorka Guruzeta volleyed, Yuri Berchiche’s, Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, Oihan Sancet, Nico, Juan Manuel Serrano Arce, Antonio Raíllo, Cristhian Stuani, Rafa Babot, Sávio Organizations: CNN — Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao, Bilbao, Africa, of Nations, Mozambique, Spanish, archrival Real Madrid, La Liga, UEFA Champions League, Napoli, ”, Athletic, ” Barcelona, Getty, Barça, Copa, Rey, La Liga football, Mallorca, Wednesday, Girona Locations: Ivory Coast, Ghana, Spain, La, ” Barcelona, AFP, Girona

☆ How Girona became the unlikeliest challenger in La Liga
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Matias Grez | Patrick Snell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Founded in 1930, Girona plays its football at the modest 14,000-capacity Estadi Montilivi on the outskirts of a city that has a population of just 100,000. Girona was previously promoted to La Liga in 2017, spending only two seasons in Spain’s top flight before being relegated. David Ramos/Getty Images“I tell you what, why not?” Hunter said when asked if Girona can win the league. He’s young, he’s intelligent, he’s ambitious, he’s driven. Fran Santiago/Getty ImagesRegardless, Girona has earned the right to dream and Hunter says upsetting the odds and winning La Liga “would mean everything” to the club and its fans.

Persons: Leicester City’s, Semra Hunter, David Ramos, ” Hunter, they’ve, Atlético Madrid, “, Miguel Ángel Sánchez, Míchel, Fran Santiago, Ignasi, ”, “ It’s, Bagà, CNN Sport’s Patrick Snell, –, that’s, Hunter, Pau Barrena, He’s, he’s, let’s, Yan Couto, Yangel Herrera, Aleix García, Eric García, Artem Dovbyk, Pep Guardiola, Ancelotti, Atlético, Barça, “ It’s David, Goliath Organizations: CNN —, Spanish, Real Madrid, La Liga –, Spain isn’t, La Liga, Premier League, Real, Girona, Getty, Barcelona, Real Sociedad, Champions League, ”, Rayo Vallecano, Rayo, CNN, Atlético, City Football Group, Manchester City, Atletico, Pau, City, SC Dnipro, La Locations: Catalan, Spain, Spain isn’t Barcelona, Girona, La, Madrid, Spain’s, Atlético, Real Madrid, ” Girona, Saudi Arabia, Huesca, Atlético Madrid, Pau, AFP, Ukrainian, Real

☆ Vinícius Jr. scores first-half hat-trick as Real Madrid dominates Barcelona to win Spanish Super Cup
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Samuel Joseph | Sam Joseph | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Real Madrid claimed its 13th Spanish Super Cup with a comprehensive 4-1 demolition of arch-rival Barcelona in El Clásico on Sunday. The result was sweet revenge for Madrid, which was defeated 3-1 by Barcelona in the 2023 edition of the tournament. “We wanted to win the final,” said Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti after the game. Real doubled its advantage three minutes later when Vinícius scored his second, sliding in to meet a low Rodrygo cross to leave Barcelona reeling. Yasser Bakhsh/Getty ImagesHowever, the moment of hope turned out to be fleeting as Vinícius completed his hat-trick only minutes later.

Persons: Vinícius Jr, Rodrygo, “, ”, Carlo Ancelotti, “ Vinícius, Atlético, Robert Lewandowski, Barça’s, Ronald Araújo, Xavi, We’ll, ” Madrid, Vinícius, phenom Jude Bellingham, Iñaki Peña, Yasser Bakhsh, Cristiano Ronaldo’s, siu, Nassr –, Cristiano, ” Vinícius, Ferran Torres, Andriy Lunin, Torres, Lunin, Lewandowski, Jules Koundé, Araújo, Giuseppe Cacace, João Félix Organizations: CNN — Real Madrid, Spanish, Los, Atlético Madrid, ”, Vinícius, King Saud University, Madrid, Lewandowski, Real, Barcelona, La Liga, Getty Locations: Barcelona, El Clásico, Madrid, ” Barcelona, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Pedri, AFP, Bellingham, Girona

One-litre bottles of extra-virgin olive oil are selling for as much as 14.5 euros ($15.77) in some supermarkets, propelling olive oil into the category of products retailers fit with security tags, alongside spirits, cosmetics and appliances. "Olive oil has become an ideal product for them to steal." STC, a Spanish company providing anti-theft solutions to retailers, saw a 12-fold increase in orders this summer from supermarkets for devices to protect olive oil bottles, managing partner Salvador Canones told Reuters. Spanish police have also uncovered thefts of olive oil from mills and in October arrested two people as part of an investigation into the theft of 56 tonnes of extra virgin olive oil. Among the world's biggest consumers of olive oil, they have already significantly cut back: sales volumes of extra-virgin olive oil fell by 17% in the 12 months to September, according to NielsenIQ.

Persons: Jon Nazca, Ruben Navarro, Navarro, Tu, " Navarro, Salvador Canones, Corina Rodriguez, Helen Reid, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Tu, STC, Reuters, Spanish, Thomson Locations: Olive, Malaga, Spain, Rights MADRID, Spain's Andalucia, Carrefour, Madrid, Spanish

☆ Manchester City’s $500 Million Payroll Is Largest in English Soccer History
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Tariq Panja | More About Tariq Panja | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Manchester City, the Premier League’s dominant team for much of the past decade, announced on Wednesday it had spent more on player salaries last season than any team in British soccer history, paying out more than $500 million as it claimed English and European championships. Cup and its first Champions League title — completing a so-called treble that only one English team had previously managed to do. City now trails only Barcelona in how much it pays its players in salaries, but unlike that Spanish superteam City’s expenditure has not resulted in financial crisis. Instead, City also announced record revenues of 712.8 million pounds, or almost $900 million — another British record — for the year through June 2023. The club’s annual statement also boasted a profit of 80 million pounds, double what it reported a year earlier.

Persons: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nayhan, City, Pep Guardiola Organizations: Manchester City, League’s, United Arab Emirates, Premier League Locations: Manchester, Spanish, City, Barcelona

☆ Simeone extends Atletico contract until 2027
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Nov 9 (Reuters) - Argentine coach Diego Simeone has extended his contract with Atletico Madrid until 2027, the LaLiga club said on Thursday. The 53-year-old has led Atletico in a club record 642 games. Simeone has guided Atletico to eight trophies since his arrival in 2011, two league titles, one Copa del Rey, two Europa Leagues, two European Super Cups and one Spanish Super Cup, making him the club's most successful coach. He also had two spells as a midfielder with the Madrid side, making 167 appearances and scoring 30 goals. Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios and Javier Leira, editing by Ed OsmondOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Diego Simeone, Simeone, Janina Nuno Rios, Javier Leira, Ed Osmond Organizations: Atletico Madrid, Atletico, Copa, Copa del Rey, Europa Leagues, Thomson Locations: Argentine, Copa del, Madrid

☆ Ballon d’Or: Lionel Messi and Aitana Bonmatí win men’s and women’s awards
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( George Ramsay | Patrick Sung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Lionel Messi won a record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or on Monday, while Barcelona and Spain star Aitana Bonmatí won the Ballon d’Or Féminin – the annual soccer awards celebrating the best players in the men’s and women’s game. This [award] is also for you, I share it with you and with all of Argentina.”Barça and Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati receives the Woman Ballon d'Or award during the 2023 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony on October 30. “I’m very proud to receive the Ballon d’Or tonight. In both places, I have the best teammates next to me that make me better every day.”Aitana Bonmatí has won the Ballon d'Or Féminin for the first time. Barcelona Femení won Women’s Club of the Year for its standout year, which included three titles – Liga F, the Spanish Super Cup and the Women’s Champions League – and having a roster which included six Ballon d’Or Féminin nominees, including the winner, Bonmatí.

Persons: Lionel Messi, Ballon d’Or, Aitana Bonmatí, Féminin, Messi, Ballon, Erling Haaland, Germain, Kylian, “, I’ve, ”, David Beckham, Aitana, ” Messi, Odd Andersen, Diego Maradona, Diego, Maradona, ” Barça, Aitana Bonmati, Franck Fife, ” Bonmatí, Novak Djokovic, haven’t, ” Aitana Bonmatí, Javier Borrego, Alexia Putellas, Sam Kerr, Bonmatí’s, Salma Paralluelo, Jude Bellingham, Gerd Müller, Stefan Wermuth, Pep Guardiola’s, Barcelona Femení, d’Or Féminin, Bonmatí, Ballon d’Or Lionel Messi, Argentina Ballon, Spain Gerd Müller, Striker, Emiliano Martínez, Socrates, Vinícius Jr Organizations: CNN, Argentina’s, Inter Miami star’s, Manchester City, Paris Saint, Inter Miami, Argentina –, Copa América, Getty, Argentina national, …, Copa, France Football, Barcelona, Liga, League, Wolfsburg, world’s, FC Barcelona, Europa Press, Chelsea, Roja, Bellingham, Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, German, FA, Men’s Club, pipping Inter Milan, Women’s Club, Spanish, Women’s, League –, Norway Yashin, Aston Villa, Argentina Kopa, Real, Brazil Men’s Club, Year Manchester City Women’s Club Locations: Barcelona, Spain, Paris, Argentina, Qatar, Argentine, AFP, Australia, New Zealand, Barça, Spanish, Bellingham, Los, Madrid, El Clásico, Manchester, Istanbul, Bonmatí, Manchester City, Norway, Real Madrid, Brazil

☆ "Fleetwood Mac" on fire as Europe calls the early tune
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

ROME, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Europe picked up just where they left off by storming into an early lead in the Ryder Cup foursomes on Saturday, with crowd favourites Tommy Fleetwood and Rory McIlroy - dubbed Fleetwood Mac - winning the first three holes of the first match. He did shuffle the order slightly, sending McIlroy, who won both his Friday matches, and Fleetwood out first, perhaps as part of a strategy to get the crowd firing early on, and how it paid off. However, they were horribly off-beam early on as Fleetwood’s 35ft (11 m) putt on the second ignited the crowd. "He was the ultimate European Ryder Cup player who made everyone else play better. We always respect Seve and he is a big part of the Ryder Cup for all of us.

Persons: Tommy Fleetwood, Rory McIlroy, Fleetwood Mac, Luke Donald, McIlroy, Fleetwood, Zach Johnson, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Scottie Scheffler, Brooks Koepka, Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Aberg, Seve Ballesteros’s, Javier, Donald, Seve, Mitch Phillips, Sonali Paul Organizations: European, Ryder, Thomson Locations: Europe, Spanish, U.S, Whistling Straits

☆ Xavi signs contract extension with Barcelona until 2025
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Sept 22 (Reuters) - Coach Xavi Hernandez has extended his contract with Barcelona until 2025 with an option for a further year, the LaLiga club said on Friday. The 43-year-old manager arrived at Barcelona on a three-year deal following the departure of Dutchman Ronald Koeman at the end of 2021. Former Spain international Xavi has coached Barca in 96 games, with 61 wins, 16 draws and 19 losses. Barca academy product Xavi spent 17 years as a player with the Catalan side, winning 25 trophies - including eight LaLiga titles and four Champions Leagues - in 767 appearances. Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City, editing by Pritha SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Xavi Hernandez, Dutchman Ronald Koeman, Xavi, Janina Nuno Rios, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Barcelona, Spain, Barca, Spanish, Thomson Locations: Barcelona, Barca, Mexico City

Meanwhile, failed uprisings in Bahrain and eastern Saudi Arabia were followed by years-long crackdowns and a continuing civil war in Syria. “What we’re beginning to see in Saudi Arabia right now is the emergence of a new social contract. Saudi Arabia is the world’s biggest exporter of crude oil, and nearly two-thirds of its income still comes from selling fossil fuels. If Saudi Arabia can become a hub for major sporting events, then that’s a way of attracting interest to the country,” said Maguire. In response to previous criticism about Saudi Arabia’s purported “sportswashing,” the kingdom’s sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal said: “People that don’t know Saudi Arabia, have never been to Saudi Arabia, go out and talk about it as if they’ve lived there for 30 years, 40 years.

Persons: Hilal, Kylian Mbappé, Germain, Neymar Jr, Ballon d’Or, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nassr, Patricia de Melo Moreira, it’s, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman –, Leon Neal, Ballon, Karim Benzema, Al Hilal, spender, –, Carlo Nohra, Jordan Henderson, Henderson, “, ’ ” Simon Chadwick, “ We’ve, ” Chadwick, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Al Nassr, Stringer, you’re, Kieran Maguire, they’re, Everybody’s, ” Maguire, Chadwick, Ronaldo, Maguire, … Mohammed bin Salman, ” James Dorsey, ”, Chadwick –, Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al, Faisal, don’t, they’ve, LIV Golf, Jimmy Dunne, LIV, Dunne, Aleksander Ceferin, Erling, Haaland, Jurgen Klopp, Michael Emenalo, Steven Gerrard, Nohra, ” “ They’ve Organizations: CNN, Saudi, Al, Paris Saint, PSG, Saudi Pro League, Ligue, Liga, Serie, Bundesliga, English Premier League, Deloitte, Investment Fund, AFP, Getty, SPL, Saudi Crown, Spanish, Arsenal, CNN Sport, English, Newcastle United, Liverpool, The Athletic, SKEMA Business School, Argentina, Zamalek, King Fahd Sports City, Anadolu Agency, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Football, AFC Asian, FIFA, Greece, Royal Spanish Football Federation, Spanish Super, ”, Amnesty International, Amnesty, Middle East Soccer, Saudi Ministry, Sport, PGA Tour, European, UEFA, Premier League, Ettifaq Media, Reuters New Saudi Pro League, Major League Soccer, La Liga, Peterson Institute for International Economics, Russian Direct Investment Fund, Investigations, PGA Locations: Saudi Arabian, Brazil, Saudi, Ittihad, Al, Ahli, Real Madrid, England, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Liverpool, China, Qatar, Taif, Egypt, Spanish, East, North Africa, Libya, Yemen, Tunisia, Bahrain, Syria, “, ”, Europe, ” Liverpool

☆ Spanish prosecutors accuse Rubiales of sexual assault and coercion for kissing a player at World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Spanish state prosecutors have accused Luis Rubiales of sexual assault and coercion for kissing a player on the lips without her consent after the Women's World Cup final, the country's prosecutors' office said Friday. Prosecutors presented a case against Rubiales to Spain's National Court in Madrid two days after Hermoso formally accused him of sexual assault. The new law eliminated the difference between "sexual harassment" and "sexual assault," sanctioning any unconsented sexual act. Spain's women's players have said they won't play again for their nation until big changes are made in the federation. Rubiales, a former player and former head of Spain's biggest players' union, has run the federation since 2018.

Persons: Luis Rubiales, Jorge Vilda, Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso, Prosecutors, Hermoso, Germain, Spain, Spain's, Saudi Arabia —, Cristiano Ronaldo —, women's Organizations: Spanish Royal Football Federation, Spain women's, football team's, La, Spain, England, National, Prosecutors, Pachuca, Paris Saint, Atletico Madrid, FIFA, Spain's, Liga, Spanish, Super, UEFA Locations: Spain, Madrid, Spanish, Sydney, Australia, Barcelona, Paris, Saudi Arabia, Portugal, Morocco

☆ Thieves reportedly stole $500,000 of olive oil after drought boosted prices, turning it into 'liquid gold'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Half a million dollars' worth of extra virgin olive oil was stolen in Spain last week, El Mundo reported. That's because Spain's olive oil production dropped by 50% this year compared to the previous harvest. The olive oil was stored in a warehouse waiting to be bottled when it was stolen, according to local newspaper Diario Córdoba. The cost of a bottle of extra virgin olive oil has jumped about 15% since mid-July in Spanish supermarkets, Bloomberg reported. "Everyone is worried because the price is going to keep climbing, and olive oil is truly becoming liquid gold," Parra said, per Bloomberg.

Persons: it's, Martin Parra, Parra Organizations: El Mundo, Service, country's Civil Guard, Diario Córdoba, Bloomberg, Olive Oil Times Locations: Spain, El, Wall, Silicon, Spanish, Córdoba, El Mundo

☆ US Open men's quarterfinals: Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton bid for a semifinal place
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

For the first time since 2005, three Americans have progressed to the quarterfinals of the men’s draw. Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton are the trio still harboring dreams of winning a home grand slam. Tiafoe and Shelton will play each other on Tuesday, while Fritz has a rather tricky tie against 23-time grand slam winner Novak Djokovic on the same day. I’m not going to do anything different because I’m playing Novak,” he told reporters after reaching the quarterfinal. “He’s going to come after me, and I’m going to come after him.

Persons: Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, Ben Shelton, Andy Roddick, Shelton, Fritz, Novak Djokovic, Andre Agassi, James Blake, Robby Ginepri, Agassi, Roger Federer, Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, “ I’ve, ”, Sarah Stier, “ I’m, I’m, Novak, Bunny, “, Bugs Bunny, He’s, ” Tiafoe, “ He’s, It’s, ” Shelton, Tommy Paul, ” Shleton Organizations: CNN, Getty Locations: American, Shelton, Australia

☆ Bonmati, Carmona and Kerr to vie for UEFA Player of the Year award
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Bonmati and Carmona were part of the Spain team which beat England 1-0 to win the Women's World Cup on Sunday. Bonmati had a stellar domestic campaign with Barcelona, helping the club seal a fourth consecutive Spanish League title as well as winning the Women's Champions League and the Spanish Super Cup. Forward Kerr scored 29 goals in all competitions last season as Chelsea won their fourth consecutive FA Women's Super League title as well as the Women's FA Cup. She also reached the semi-finals of the Women's World Cup with Australia. UEFA also announced the candidates for Women's Coach of the Year, with Barcelona's Jonatan Giraldez, Spain's Jorge Vilda and England's Sarina Wiegman the three final nominees.

Persons: Hannah Mckay, Sam Kerr of, Aitana Bonmati, Olga Carmona, Bonmati, Carmona, Forward Kerr, Barcelona's Jonatan, Spain's Jorge Vilda, Sarina, Aadi Nair, Toby Davis Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA, England, Chelsea, Spain, Spanish League, Women's Champions League, Spanish, Madrid, Barcelona, Copa, la Reina, Women's FA, Australia, UEFA, Women's, League, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Spain, Australia, Sydney, Sam Kerr of Australia, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Monaco, Bengaluru

☆ Spanish federation chief to quit over kiss scandal - report
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The incident sparked outrage within and outside Spain, with many, including government ministers, demanding his resignation. The favourites to succeed Rubiales are Pedro Rocha, head of the Extremadura football federation, and Pablo Lozano, head of the Andalusia federation, the source said. Rubiales, who played for several lower league clubs in Spain, finished his playing career in 2009 with Hamilton Academical in Scotland. There was also a mutiny within the Spain women's squad last September, when a large group of players demanded that long-standing coach Jorge Vilda be sacked. The RFEF backed Vilda and he cut 12 of the 15 players involved in the dispute from his World Cup squad.

Persons: Pedro Sanchez, Royal Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales, Juan Medina, Luis Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso, Spain's, Cadena, Rubiales, Hermoso, Pedro Rocha, Pablo Lozano, Angel Maria Villar, Julen Lopetegui, Jorge Vilda, Fernando Kallas, Charlie Devereux, Ed Osmond Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA, Spain's, Moncloa, Royal Spanish Football Federation, Royal Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales REUTERS, Rights, Cadena Ser, England, Sunday, Reuters, Extremadura, Hamilton Academical, Association of Spanish, Spanish, Spain, World, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Madrid, Spain, Spanish, Sydney, Andalusia, Scotland, Saudi Arabia

☆ Former Barcelona defender Alba to sign for Inter Miami, says club president
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 18 (Reuters) - Former Barcelona defender Jordi Alba will join Lionel Messi at Inter Miami, the Major League Soccer (MLS) club's president Jorge Mas said on Tuesday. Alba, who has won more than 90 caps for Spain, will be part of a strong ex-Barcelona contingent at Inter Miami, with Messi and Sergio Busquets having already joined the club. Miami are also looking to sign another former Barca player, Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez, who plays for Gremio in Brazil. Mas said that talks had taken place but "he is a Gremio player and I respect that". The MLS team's president also confirmed the arrival of Paraguayan midfielder Diego Gomez from Libertad, and said they had made formal contact with Argentine side Racing Club to enquire about Tomas Aviles.

Persons: Jordi Alba, Lionel Messi, Jorge Mas, Alba, Messi, Sergio Busquets, Gerardo Martino, Mas, Luis Suarez, Diego Gomez, Tomas Aviles, Angelica Medina, Toby Davis Organizations: Barcelona, Inter Miami, Major League Soccer, Champions League, Copa del Rey, Tata, TyC Sports, Barca, Uruguayan, Gremio, MLS, Libertad, Argentine, Racing Club, Thomson Locations: Barcelona, Spain, Miami, Brazil, Paraguayan, Mexico

☆ 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

☆ Xavi relies on flawless defence mechanism to lead Barcelona back to glory
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The change in mentality may not have sat entirely comfortably with Xavi who said Barca's style was "non-negotiable" when he was appointed coach in November, 2021. A former Barca player himself, Xavi was a symbol of their attacking style as a flamboyant midfielder who won every major title with the club and with Spain. They have conceded 13 goals in the league, by far the best defensive record in Europe’s top five leagues. The trio hold the key to stifling their rival's attacking threats, particularly Araujo who has arguably been Europe's top defender this season. Barcelona were last champions of Spain in 2018-19 when they still had club greats Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez leading their attack up-front.

☆ 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.

☆ Mourinho dismisses PSG talk ahead of Europa League semi-final
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Soccer Football - Europa League - AS Roma Press Conference - Rome, Italy - May 10, 2023 AS Roma coach Jose Mourinho during the press conference. Despite talk of potentially take over the Ligue 1 club from Christophe Galtier in the 2023-24 season, Mourinho reaffirmed his loyalty to Roma, where he is currently under contract until 2024. "If they called, they didn’t find me," Mourinho told Sky Sport Italia on Wednesday before the pre-match news conference. During the news conference, Mourinho expressed admiration for the former Spain international, showering him with praise. Despite Roma reaching the semi-finals of a prominent European competition for the third consecutive season, Mourinho dismisses the notion that it puts pressure on the team.

☆ Real will attack Barcelona with title on the line - Ancelotti
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-18 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BARCELONA, March 18 (Reuters) - Real Madrid will not hold back in El Clasico against Barcelona at Camp Nou on Sunday as they bid to close a nine-point gap their arch-rivals at the top of LaLiga. Without taking risks, we will go out on attack," Real manager Carlo Ancelotti told a news conference on Saturday. They suffered a little more than usual but won that game," Ancelotti said. Coach Xavi Hernandez expects his back line will be tested by Real but is confident of causing them problems. "I think Real Madrid will be more aggressive and attack more than usual because of the situation that they are facing, nine points behind us," Xavi told a news conference.

☆ Santander lifts profitability goal to 15-17%, pay-out to 50% in 3-year strategy
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The lender also unveiled in a presentation to the Spanish supervisor a new dividend pay-out policy for the period of 50% of consolidated ordinary profit, compared to the previous policy of 40%. Santander proposed a final cash dividend of 0.0595 euros per share. As a result, the total cash dividend per share for 2022 will rise to 0.1178 euros, a rise of 18% compared to 2021. It also announced an additional share buy-back programme of 921 million euros ($974.79 million) after obtaining regulatory authorization. The bank's shareholder remuneration against 2022 results would rise to 3.84 billion euros, split in equal parts in cash dividend and share buy-backs.

☆ Barcelona ease to 3-1 victory over Real Madrid to win Super Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 15 (Reuters) - Barcelona were crowned Spanish Super Cup champions after goals from Gavi, Robert Lewandowski and Pedri earned them a 3-1 win over bitter rivals Real Madrid in Saudi Arabia on Sunday. Barcelona were dominant in every aspect of the game and took advantage of three mistakes by Real Madrid to score. Lewandowski extended the lead 12 minutes later on the counter when defender Dani Carvajal was caught out of position and left Gavi alone on the left wing. Real Madrid, who had no shots on target in the first half, spent most of the second in panic mode, trying to avoid a bigger defeat. Substitute Dani Ceballos lost the ball in midfield and Gavi sprinted forward and crossed for Pedri to fire point-black into the empty net.

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