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Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu was asked about the contract negotiations with Lionel Messi when reflecting on Barca’s 2016 calendar year. Another reflection about the ongoing Lionel Messi contract situation has come out and it has come from someone important to the club. Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu has spoken about the situation. The President made his statements in his end-of-the-year press conference. It has been reported that the Argentine’s contract is said to be in the works. The extension is reportedly a deal through the year 2021. However, nothing will be signed until after Christmas as Messi has gone back to Argentina for the holidays. Here is what the President said to the media. “We want Leo Messi to finish his career at FC Barcelona,” Bartomeu said. “Messi is the best player in the history of football so we want him to finish with us. We will make the effort. We will try to convince him that he is at the best club, he knows this is his home. W...

The full squad for the upcoming second leg of Barcelona’s Copa Del Rey Round of 16 match against Hércules CF has been announced. The time has arrived for the second leg of the Blaugrana’s Copa Del Rey tie with Hércules, a second division Spanish squad. Tonight’s match at the Camp Nou will be a must win one for the club. Barca drew 1-1 at Hércules the first time around. This will also be the last game for the club in the calendar year of 2016, with a win setting up a date with either Osasuna or Granada. Per the club, manager Luis Enrique has allowed the likes of Messi, Neymar, Suarez, and Pique to go out on holiday a little early. Therefore, Barcelona will be without its three best players and its anchor on defense. However, it will be a great chance to see if the other role players can step up to the challenge. Despite the missing stars, Luis Enrique is set to have 16 players at his disposal for the Barcelona’s second go around with Segunda División side...

Neymar’s Barcelona career started with a struggle, but Lionel Messi helped him get through the struggle. Neymar has been one of Barcelona’s most valuable and talented player since his arrival from Santos in 2013. He has made so many plays and scored many important goals for the team over the seasons. However, his career with Barca began with a very rough patch of play on the pitch and other things off the pitch. Luckily, Neymar inherited great teammates when he made the move like 5 time Ballon D’Or winner Lionel Messi. The Brazilian forward told a story to CNN about how Messi helped his career grow at Barcelona. “I have a nice story about Messi,” Neymar told CNN. “Soon after I arrived, it was not a great moment in my career and he was the one who helped me. He saw that I was sad, with my head down, that things were not going right for me. He told me to keep going, to be happy and to play the way I know. He told me this and he helped me a lot at that moment in time. He is a per...

The Brazilian youngster has impressed at Barcelona B under coach Gerard Lopez. He even made an appearance for the senior side. This has compelled Barcelona to trigger the clause in his loan contract. He joined during the summer on loan with a cleverly negotiated clause in his contract. Barca can purchase him for €6 million any time during the whole term of his contract. Robert will trigger that clause in January. But the transfer fee is expected to go down as Fluminese owe Barca a considerable amount. According to Calciomercato,  the Catalans have already informed Fluminese that they want to sign Marlon on a permanent deal. If the reports are to be believed, Marlon could become a Blaugrana in the winter transfer window.

FC Barcelona boss Luis Enrique says he does not have to "justify" to anyone why he has dropped one of his midfielders. The Spanish manager has not named Croatian star Ivan Rakitic in the Catalan club's last three starting line-ups, and many have wondered why. Enrique refused to give the media any specific reason as to why he has dropped the former Sevilla player, but did praise him for his professionalism. "I've got no interest in justifying myself to a player of mine. I'm not going to do that. Rakitic has been and will be a good player for Barca," the Spanish boss said, as quoted by the  Daily Mail .   "I have to take criticisms and I will continue to take them for what I think is best for the team. "I'm really happy with his commitment and his attitude."   The 28-year-old has made 19 appearances in all competitions for Barcelona this season, scoring two goals. Do you think Rakitic could be on his way out of the Camp Nou...

The MSN all made cameo appearances for Luis Enrique's side in the 5-3 rout in Al Rayyan with Paco Alcacer and Rafinha also scoring. Lionel Messi scored as Barcelona  dispatched Al Ahli 5-3 in a mid-season money-spinner in Qatar. Neymar and Luis Suarez were also on target to the delight of the crowd at the Thani bin Jassim Stadium. The MSN were limited to 33 minutes of playing time in the exhibition game, with Paco Alcacer grabbing his first goal for the club and Rafinha also netting. The Blaugrana have made the trip as part of their sponsorship agreement with Qatar Airways. It is the first time Barca have played in Qatar, with Xavi meeting his former teammates earlier in the week in Doha. The World Cup-winner is currently playing for Al Sadd. Now Enrique will ferry his side back to Spain in time to tackle city-rivals Espanyol on Sunday.

IVAN RAKITIC reportedly had a row with Barcelona boss Luis Enrique after the midfielder claimed he fancied playing for Manchester City chief Pep Guardiola. That’s according to Spanish news outlet Don Balon  who claim Rakitic’s admission infuriated the Barca supremo. Ironically, the Croatian’s suggestion that he’d like to be reunited with Guardiola could edge him towards a move to Manchester United. Don Balon suggested earlier this month that Jose Mourinho believes the £35m-rated playmaker has been treated harshly by Enrique at the Nou Camp. And it was suggested the former Chelsea  boss could splash the cash and swoop for the talented star. Mourinho reportedly wants to offer Rakitic a starring role in his underperforming Red Devils side. It was claimed Rakitic would compliment Paul Pogba and allow the Frenchman more freedom in the middle of the park. Rakitic joined the Catalans from Sevilla in 2014 and has gone on to become one of the best midfielders in ...