BARCELONA TIE NEYMAR DOWN WITH NEW DEAL

Spanish side Barcelona have announced the signing of a new deal by Brazilian superstar Neymar which will tie him to the club until 2021.

The La Liga champions are now set to offer contracts to the rest of the team, with five-time Ballon D’or winner Lionel Messi and play maker Andres Iniesta next in line.

Messi’s current deal will expire in 2018 but the club’s management are not taking any chance as they want him to commit his future now. Iniesta’s deal is also set to expire in 2018 but the club wants to keep him at the Nou camp as well. The president of the club Josep Maria Bartomeu said last week that players with less than two years on their current deal would be evaluated. However, Spanish newspaper Marca claim that doesn’t hold true for Messi and Iniesta as the club will not hesitate to get their signatures now.

The club chiefs are keen on Iniesta ending his career at the Nou Camp and talks with the veteran player is expected to kick off soonest. The club is undergoing a £500 million redevelopment of the stadium which will extend till 2020. The reports say Bartomeu wants Messi to be available when they complete it despite other reports linking Messi to a big-money move to the Premier League. Read more »

FABREGAS: ANDRES INIESTA NOT MY BEST MIDFIELDER

Ex-Gunner play maker, Cesc Fabregas who has made several inciting comments of recent made another where he mentioned his former team mate as the best he has played alongside in his career.

Fabregas had joined current Chelsea team mate, Eden Hazard, to declare publicly their wish that Leicester City win the English Premier League in light of the hot chase Spurs gave, before The Foxes eventually clinched the trophy on Monday when Chelsea played a draw with Tottenham.

The comments drew criticisms from several quarters as they opined that the players should have kept such thoughts private, especially as professionals playing against each other in the league. The Spaniard again said he believes Mathieu Flamini is the best midfielder he has played alongside.

Despite sharing the pitch with a catalogue of world class team-mates during a glittering career at Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea, the Spain International believes Flamini’s covering qualities are unparalleled. The play maker featured alongside Xavi and Iniesta for both club and country where he spent four seasons with Flamini at Emirates Stadium before the Frenchman moved to Milan in 2008.

Flamini was introduced for Fabregas in the closing stages of Arsenal’s 2006 Champions League final defeat to Barcelona but the pair played together regularly in the final season of Flamini’s first spell in North London.  The player told Football Daily: Read more »

Andres Iniesta rewrites history as he breaks a new record

Lionel Messi is the Barcelona player who is usually receiving all the attention from the media as the Argentinean is a showstopper whenever he comes into the pitch with sensational goals and tricks.

There are however other players that aren’t in the spotlight as much as Lionel Messi or Neymar. One of these players is Andres Iniesta. The Spanish midfielder is considered to be one of the best performers in the world and even though he has been displaying world class abilities for the past few years, the players in Barcelona that are regularly in the headlines or highlights of videos and websites is either Messi, Suarez or Neymar.

Nonetheless, Iniesta is always putting in work in each and every game that he plays for Barcelona as well as the Spanish national team.

Andres Iniesta was one of the most influential players of the 2010 World Cup as it was him who managed to score the winning goal of that tournament which helped secure the prestigious piece of silverware but Iniesta has gone even further and established himself as one of the greatest Spanish players after securing his 29^th title and becoming the player with most titles from his country. Iniesta even managed to surpass his former teammate Xavi Hernandez who has a total of 28 trophies in his collection. Read more »

Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta has not had such an influential season for his club

Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta has not had such an influential season for his club in comparison to other seasons.

A few years ago Iniesta, Xavi and Messi were the main stars of the Spanish club but things have sustained a dramatic change as Suarez and Neymar have now attracted all the attention and have turned into the central figures at the Camp Nou.

Xavi Hernandez has already signed a contract with the Qatari club Al-Sadd as the Spanish midfielder will be ending his relation with Barcelona at the end of the current season and Andres Iniesta seems to be heading to the out of Barcelona as well.

Iniesta has a contract with Barcelona which extends until 2018 but it’s obvious that he isn’t the same player he used to be some years ago. After having made over 300 appearances for Barcelona, the best days of Iniesta are behind him and the 30 year old midfielder took the chance to give his thanks to the manager who allowed him to make his debut, Louis van Gaal.

Andres Iniesta said: “My debut with the team, it was the most important day of my life. It was a dream come true. These are very good memories. I was nervous but also very grateful to Van Gaal and all the coaches I’ve had before. I was 17 years of age and delighted to be in the first-team, and he gave me that opportunity. I knew that he had always done tremendous work with the young players.’’ Read more »

Iniesta Ruled Out

Barcelona have been dealt a major blow ahead of the Champions League group stage match against AC Milan after midfielder Andres Iniesta has been ruled out with a thigh injury. Barcelona could only draw in their home match against AC Milan, and Guardiola would have been counting on having his best players available in order to achieve the win over AC Milan at the San Siro they need. However, the injury to Andres Iniesta means that he will have to reshuffle his pack. Even though the changes may not be so dramatic, given Barca have numerous world class midfielders, it is certainly going to affect his team because of the talent Andres Iniesta possesses.

Many regard him to be the vital link between the defenders and midfielders. Along with Xavi, Iniesta dictates the play for Barca and, even though they are quite effective without him, Barcelona are not the same team without him. Along with Iniesta, Guardiola will also be without the likes of Adriano and Irabhim Affelay.

Guardiola will be extremely keen to do well in the match against AC Milan especially given that it will be against one of his former players Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Guardiola was criticised heavily by Ibrahimovic in his autobiography and the former Barcelona midfielder will be keen to show the striker that he is a better manager than he is given credit for in the book.

The 2-2 draw in the first leg was an extremely thrilling encounter, but Guardiola will be forced to reassess his options following the injury to Iniesta. It may well be that Barcelona decide to play a cagey, more defensive match, hitting Milan on the counter with the pace provided by Lionel Messi and David Villa upfront. A victory for Barcelona will ensure that they finish at the top of the group, as they lead AC Milan by two points already.

@andresiniesta8 this is a great gift for us,thank you a lot Iniesta,thank you Barça

@andresiniesta8 this is a fantastic gift for us,thank you a lot Iniesta,thank you Barça – by jisraelpalacios (jose israel palacios)

@JPRowley barca champions then lol, we’ll need everyone fully fit and for messi iniesta and xavi to be injured. NOT GONNA HAPPEN

@JPRowley barca champions then lol, we'll need everyone fully fit and for messi iniesta and xavi to be injured. NOT GONNA HAPPEN – by Nicko_143 (Nicko Luiz Nazario )

@seanbot Yes indeed. Shakhtar looked dangerous early, but so much sick Barca offense. That Iniesta to Dani brilliance… Messi to Keita…

@seanbot Yes in fact. Shakhtar looked harmful early, but so a lot sick Barca offense. That Iniesta to Dani brilliance… Messi to Keita… – by 40yardsplash (Justin Monroe)

@RobertEarnshaw barca now play In front of iniesta and xavi with messi and villa out wide they are simply class

@RobertEarnshaw barca now play In front of iniesta and xavi with messi and villa out vast they are basically course – by dickdrum1976 (Nick Drum)

Spain won it against Czech Republic! Brilliant game from the midfield trio of barca xavi, iniesta, busquets(especially).

Spain won it in opposition to Czech Republic! Amazing sport from the midfield trio of barca xavi, iniesta, busquets(specially). – by praveencule (A Praveen kumar)