Barcelona

'Who is going to give me passes now?' – Lionel Messi admits life at Inter Miami will be 'strange' without Jordi Alba in emotional message to retiring team-mate

Lionel Messi has admitted it will be “strange” not playing alongside Jordi Alba in an emotional tribute to his Inter Miami team-mate following the defender’s decision to retire from professional football. The Argentina star took to social media to hail his close friend and former Barcelona colleague after he announced he will hang up his boots at the end of the 2025 Major League Soccer season.

Barcelona accused of dodging taxes with €10m payment for allegedly 'non-existent' services in deal to sign €42m Brazilian flop

Barcelona have reportedly come under investigation for allegedly avoiding taxes linked to the signing of Brazilian winger Malcom in 2018. The club are accused of paying €10 million to intermediaries for “non-existent” services, with police also probing former president Josep Maria Bartomeu and several ex-executives for financial misconduct.

'Flog the horse to make money!' – Lamine Yamal among superstars defended as ex-England & Chelsea star lashes out at 'financial reasons' ruining 'sacredness' of football

Ex-Chelsea star Joe Cole has taken aim at football's administrators, claiming that the over-saturation of the football calendar is putting stars at heightened injury risk, and diluting the quality of the overall product. Cole pointed towards PSG and Chelsea's current injury problems, as well Rodri's persistent fitness issues and Lamine Yamal's concerns, as examples of players being 'flogged for financial reasons'.

'He took a big risk' – Steven Gerrard fires warning to Trent Alexander-Arnold as Liverpool legend opens up on Real Madrid transfer talks with Jose Mourinho

Steven Gerrard has fired a stern warning to full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold as the Liverpool legend revealed his own transfer links to Real Madrid when Jose Mourinho was managing the Spanish giants. Alexander-Arnold rejected a new contract from the Reds and parted ways with the club this summer to join Los Blancos for a meagre fee of £10 million ($13m).

'Time to open a new chapter' – Spain and Inter Miami great Jordi Alba announces retirement from soccer after 19-year career

Inter Miami left back Jordi Alba announced that he will walk away from professional soccer at the end of the 2025 season. The former Spain international, who won 25 trophies over the duration of his career, will go down as one of the best fullbacks of all-time and a stalwart on numerous teams alongside Lionel Messi. The Spainard will turn 37 next year.

Missing out on Cristiano Ronaldo partnership is the big 'regret' of Ivan Rakitic's career as ex-Barcelona star reveals personal call from Real Madrid legend

Ivan Rakitic has revealed the "biggest regret of his career" is the decision to pass up the chance to team up with Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus. The former Croatian midfielder, who enjoyed successful spells with Sevilla and Barcelona during the era when the Portuguese icon was starring for Real Madrid, says Ronaldo personally called him in 2019 in an attempt to lure him to Italy – an offer he ultimately had to decline.

Borussia Dortmund eager to tie 'future captain' to new contract but Germany legend urges defender to make Bayern Munich transfer instead

Borussia Dortmund are keen to ensure that Nico Schlotterbeck signs a new long-term deal with them as they see the centre-back as their "future captain". However, Germany legend Lothar Matthaus has urged his former club and Dortmund's rivals Bayern Munich to make a move for the German international, stating that he will form a great centre-back partnership with Jonathan Tah.

'I didn't fit Barcelona's style' – Wojciech Szczesny admits he 'didn't feel comfortable' after ending retirement but refused to 'play it safe' with Hansi Flick's team

Wojciech Szczesny has opened up on his challenging start to life at Barcelona, admitting he “didn’t fit” the team's playing style as he came out of retirement to join the Spanish giants. The Polish goalkeeper revealed how adapting to Hansi Flick’s high-risk system required mistakes, ego-checks and relentless effort, culminating in last season's domestic treble.