SirBalon

It looks like Barça aren't going to sign Iñigo Martínez in the end. They're apparently going to take a bet on Marlon from what's been published on Mundo Deportivo this evening. This Barça board really are poor! Iñigo Martínez was a personal quest from Ernesto Valverde (his only one). Good start this!

The part about him maybe not being confident about the new coach I don't know and that hasn't been a hypothesis that has been discussed on any medium. About Emery being better than Valverde, I'm not going to go into because it makes me feel like a child (you know... That game about "my dad is better than your dad"). On the situation about me wanting to put anything to rest, not at all. I am all up for discussing situations that arise and you may sometimes find I criticise my own because I don't think they're doing things correctly like for example the present Barça board or the Arsenal one too... I criticise because I want the best for those I feel sentiments for. And finally... The bit about Ligue1 EVER being able to rise above La Liga is absurd. I can't even take it as a joke or even further still, as a trolling scenario because it's retarded. In over 100 years give or take of European leagues never before has the French league been anywhere near the Spanish league. Even in their height of the 60s and 70s they've been nothing and you're trying to sell me that a whole institution is going to take over something that has always been there because a Brazilian footballer (not even the best Brazilian ever or in modern history) is going to make such an impact that A WHOLE league is going to overturn European football. You're talking about the French league dominating European football in the future and maintaining it. If that was a serious comment, you're mental and should get seen to. If it's to stimulate me into throwing some sort of nutter job on the web, it's impossible because in this case there is no basis for anything like that to be possible. You can't go on if's and buts in life because if that's acceptable for you then there are other leagues in Europe like the German league and the Dutch league that come way before the French league historically on the top end sides. Neymar left because he wanted to be THE protagonist in the side he played for. He isn't stupid enough for him to think that this is going to give him a substantial whack at the Ballon d'Or, but it will be enough for him to make a mark if they (PSG) have a serious run at the Champions League and not get knocked out like chickens in the middle end rounds (as per usual). But unless PSG win the Champions League with him being the main man, he will be invisible in that league. It hasn't got the exposure no matter what anyone here tries to feed people.

It seems that both Neymar and Dani Alves have been in contact with Arsenal's Alexis Sánchez in trying to convince him to join them at Paris Saint-Germain. People close to Alexis in Chile spoke to a journalist in one of Chile's national newspapers 'El Mercurio' and without naming them he's released the scoop. https://www.sport-english.com/en/news/ligue-1/neymar-and-dani-alves-call-alexis-sanchez-come-to-psg-6213703

FC Barcelona 5-0 Chapecoense Wonderful Joan Gamper game in respect of those that lost their lives. RIP.

The circumstances in football were completely different back then mate. Maradona didn't leave to be a protagonist either... He left because of an internal dispute at the club firstly and secondly because on the arrival of Terry Venables as coach, he stated he didn't want him and with that money brought in Gary Lineker and Mark Hughes. Hughes failed and Lineker was relatively successful at Barça, but Maradona was only just reaching his peak which turned out to be a stupid move. But like I said... There was massive turmoil at board level at the time. But look at what Maradona turned Napoli into at the time.

Personally, no. For me Maradona is the greatest ever and I have my reasons for this. But many have Messi as the greatest of all time and it's difficult to dispute as it would be if someone said Di Stéfano, Pelé or Cruyff. It's all very subjective of they reason well. What I'm saying though is that if Neymar departed to Ligue1 because he wants to be recognised as the best player of the moment or wants to be the out and out protagonist at a club, then like I said, he is sending out a message image wise that he leaves himself to be judged on.

The president was talking to "las peñas" and the basis of his words; "No player is bigger than the club, no player anywhere is bigger than any club" is correct. As for any reason Neymar may be butt hurt because people think Messi is the best player in the world, then that's his problem and if he has to leave because of that, then that paints an image of him and not the club.

Well there is curling too... Forgot that!

Why is it elitist? I'm not saying football is better! I'm saying the social movement that surrounds and lives within football is completely different to any other sport.

Using that argument, no player owes anything at all to any club and I can believe that this is the way things are these days. But then again if a player doesn't owe anything to a club (which is an actual fact as he gets paid a wage for his services), the fans also don't owe the player anything and seeing as they are fans of the club, then the club is what means most to them and they manifest their opinion based on actions. We are nobody to dispute what a general opinion is on a mass scale because the majority always wins in a case such as this. Figo owed nothing to Barcelona! He lied and moved on... He was then judged by the fans and treated accordingly to their sentiments based on his actions. That's the way football is for better or for worse. It's different to every other sport.

The teammates play for the club and they feel a duty for the club. The reason some of the players fell out with him somewhat in the final few days (even though things seem to have been resolved in that respect) was that he kept the club in the dark and only thought about himself. But beyond what the players may or may not have thought is something most Barcelona fans couldn't give a damn about. Clubs are about the fans, not the players... Players come and go, that's why! The fans didn't like the way Neymar and his entourage conducted themselves and that's all that matters. By the way... I'm talking about Barcelona's real fans, not those mongaloids on social media because many people seem to forget that club actually do have proper fans that go every week to games and have been doing so most of their lives.

@Asura First of all, anything relating to what happened to the Neymar transfer from Barcelona to PSG I'm going to be posting it here from now on although for me it's a dead case now and I'd rather not talk about it anymore and just focus on the future. But here's a response to the quotes you highlighted to me in rather big colourful letters... I know I'm in my 40s, but I haven't gone blind yet! (only joking mate) Have you read or listened to Dani Alves' words on Neymar going to PSG yesterday? Here's the quote: "Neymar convinced me to join PSG as he said he was on his way" How long ago did Alves sign for PSG and how many days before Neymar finally signed did he say he made up his mind? Don't believe liars, don't fall for everything mate. Alves could be lying of course. He said it live on Spanish radio two nights ago. https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/fc-barcelona/20170806/43368647435/alves-neymar-fichaje-psg.html

First Bellerín offering money while playing in the U21 Euros and now this! Don't Spaniards know any other way to dodge taxes other than to give to charity! They should just resort to what they know and steal wallets! On a serious note... It would be interesting to know how many and which footballers give to charity from their salary and not just visiting Africa or poor Asian countries as a propaganda stunt...

Arsene Wenger; "Alexis will stay and he'll just have to respect that decision" Flippin' eck! We really do have money after all! It wasn't just a myth!!!

He's still there because in the end ADL lowered his trousers mate. Everyone knows this! Insigne never backed down on his demands and De Laurentiis criticised him on several occasions in the media. There was a point where it looked like he was going to leave and finally ADL gave Lorezno exactly what he wanted. I'm not saying he will ever leave because I'm not a soothsayer. But if anyone in that team is going to fall victim to a "big" club calling him, it's gonna be him. Infact I see more loyalty in Koulibaly than Insigne.

Insigne has threatened to leave on various occasions mate. Infact even though along with Hamšík they're the two best players in the team, it's curious that Insigne being from Naples isn't exactly one of the Napoli fans' favourite players because they don't see commitment within him. The general view between Neapolitans is that he will eventually leave. Where to, who knows.

Charley Rexach (the guy who signed Messi on a serviette) was on the radio a few minutes back and he gave the answer as to why Barça are so adamant on signing Coutinho. The technical staff see him as an interior left which is Iniesta's position and seeing as Iniesta needs to be rotated so much these days and have his games hand picked (those massive games), he says that's why they want him so badly. The only other top quality interior left player (a unique position not many can play) I can think of is Hazard and that one is impossible and no point in even going for it because it would literally cost everything Barcelona have got for Neymar seeing as he's coming from the Premier League. I'm thinking of others that could play that position and the only other one is Insigne (Napoli) and dealing with De Laurentiis must put anyone off so that one is also off the list.

Valverde actually tried to sign him for Athletic a couple of times. Obviously that was never going to happen... Can you imagine!

Barça have a big history with Basque players though mate... Zubizarreta and Bakero to name two and there have been dozens more. Plus Catalonia isn't all that far away from the Basque region so he can visit in his car easily on days off and doesn't even have to fly. For me this signing is brilliant! Very happy with this one and for me of all the defenders available was one of three I've been hoping to happen for a long time. The other two were Laporte or Bonucci. No other defender on the planet does it for me aside from those two as players to sign. Even when Barça tried hard to sign Thiago Silva or Marquinhos (the latter I think will be a brilliant defender, the former is massively overrated for me and chickens out of major moments) from PSG, I though the club were mental to want to pay so much money for either.

Iñigo Martínez move to Barça imminent According to various sources Real Sociedad's centre-back Iñigo Martínez could be moving to FC Barcelona in the next few hours after the player gave his ok to the move. Real Sociedad have given access to Barça's coach Ernesto Valverde to talk to the player and apparently both the player and the club have come to an agreement. It's to be seen now whether this will be a negotiated transfer or activating the buy-out clause of €32m.

The crazy thing is that when he did play for us he played really well and the team moved better than with Giroud. But contracts are contracts mate. What's for sure is Depor can't afford it now and would be stupid to even pay the €9m they want to stretch themselves on. They've been going in the right direction for a while now while surviving and they need to stay doing this for a while longer. Arsenal on the otherhand have treated Lucas rather poorly in my view.

I have no idea with Valverde because he mixes his formations. If it were Luis Enrique then I would definitely believe he wants to revert to a permanent 3 at the back. He's been trying to implement it since he started coaching and Barça used it a lot in the second half of the season (season just finished). There's a lot of rumours flying around right now but I can't beleieve Iñigo is still at Real Sociedad with all due respects.

Barça could activate Iñigo Martínez buy-out clause According to local San Sebastián newspaper 'Gipuzkoa', FC Barcelona could be about to activate Real Sociedad's centre back Iñigo Martínez' buy out clause that stands at a very reasonable €32m. Barça have been connected with both him and Athletic Bilbao's Aymeric Laporte for years and it wouldn't be a big surprise if this were to occur. Although right now the defensive issues at Barça are very much covered and that's the only reason this would seem like a rumour unless someone were to be leaving. Jérémy Mathieu has already departed to Sporting Lisbon so the has been a hole made in the defence, although that hole was supposedly going to be filled by the young Brazilian Marlon. Keep an eye out for this one! Iñigo Martínez is a top top defender and I am very surprised he hasn't been touted by any Premier League side.

Shite? That word doesn't even cover 5% of how I feel mate. This is absolutely depressing! What pisses me off even more is seeing idiots in shorts and t-shirts just because it's meant to be summer. I've had to dig into certain pieces of my autumn wear.

Rant coming up so don't read if you don't want... People were complaining about the "heat wave" we had over a month ago which lasted all of two weeks. Now we've had three weeks of bloody rain and coldish weather. Right in the middle of what are in the rest of the continent supppsed to be the hottest months of the year. This is literally the toilet of Europe... What it doesn't piss at this time of year anywhere else, here it's discharging its waste upon us. It makes me sick and is extremely depressing.