Raphinha Strikes a Hat Trick in Historic First LaLiga Games

Posted on September 16, 2026 by Tom Castaneda

Raphinha continues his prolific start in LaLiga.

The 29-year-old Brazilian soccer star struck a hat trick, including two penalties, to help lead FC Barcelona to a 7-2 thumping of Racing Santander.

In the process the team sent records tumbling, making it seven straight wins to start the season for the first time in the club’s history.

Raphinha, flourishing in his new central striker role, now has nine goals in his first six LaLiga games, the most by any LaLiga player in that span since Lionel Messi also scored nine for Barcelona in 2017-18.

“I’m happy with the goals and the win, that’s the most important thing,” Raphinha told DAZN. “We have to keep improving, both individually and as a team. You can see the hunger from every player to always want more, to look for more goals and chances. It shows on the pitch just how close we are as a team.”

Lamine Yamal also found the net for Barcelona, who have scored at least five goals in five of their seven matches across all competitions this season.

Hansi Flick‘s team has scored 28 goals in their first six league games, second only in LaLiga history behind the Sevilla team of 1940-41 (32).

Only one other team in LaLiga history has recorded six straight wins to start the season with a better goal differential than Barcelona’s plus-22 — Real Madrid in 1987-88, with a goal differential of plus-24.

“It’s great to have a good start, but the most important thing is to have a great finish”, Flick said after the game. “It gives us confidence, and I like the momentum and the intensity. Everyone presses, everyone is involved. How we work as a team is crucial.”

João Cancelo began yet another Barcelona goal glut Wednesday with a spectacular 25-yard strike, and another long-range effort from the Portuguese defender deflected off Asier Villalibre and was credited as an own goal.

Gabriel Jesus scored in back-to-back appearances for his new club off the bench. Yamal had a goal disallowed for offside, missed a penalty and hit the post before finally scoring late for Barcelona.

Barça starting goalkeeper Joan García was forced off at halftime with a knee injury. Flick said he hopes García will be available for the next LaLiga match on Saturday.

Wojciech Szczesny took his place for the second half but struggled, committing a costly blunder inside his own area that allowed Racing to score their second goal after he was dispossessed in front of the net.

“Of course Tek [Szczesny} made a mistake, but we all make mistakes. It’s part of life. Next time, he will do better. Believe me,” Flick said.

FC Barcelona Reaches Agreement to Sign Rodri

Posted on August 16, 2026 by Tom Castaneda

Rodri is returning to his Spanish roots.

FC Barcelona have reached an agreement in principle to sign the 30-year-old Spanish professional soccer star and Manchester City midfielder, according to ESPN sources.

Barça had failed with two previous bids for Rodri but the Spanish champions returned with a third offer over the weekend with the total package worth €76.5 million (£65.3M).

Sources confirmed to ESPN on Sunday that a deal had subsequently been brokered with Manchester City, with the two clubs exchanging paperwork and finalizing the agreement.

Rodri is expected to arrive in Barcelona in the coming days and could be presented before Wednesday’s Joan Gamper Trophy match against Al Ahly at Spotify Camp Nou.

The agreement for the Ballon d’Or winner came shortly after sources told ESPN fullback João Cancelo is also set to return to Barça as a free agent.

Cancelo and Rodri are set to become Barça’s fourth and fifth signings of a busy summer following the arrivals of Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi and Jesse Bisiwu.

The club remain in the market for a striker, too, with Atlético Madrid‘s Julián Álvarez their top target following the exits of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres.

Rodri was not initially a priority signing at the start of the summer but the club jumped on the opportunity once he became available after winning the FIFA World Cup with Spain.

A long-term injury suffered by Frenkie de Jong had also forced Barça to explore the midfield market.

Real Madrid also tried to sign former Atlético Madrid player Rodri, but sources told ESPN last week he preferred a move to Barça.

Once an agreement was in place between Rodri and Barça, the Catalan club stepped up negotiations with Manchester City, who were prepared to sanction a deal for the right price given he had only one year remaining on his contract.

Sources at Barça view Rodri as a statement signing who can help take Hansi Flick‘s side — back-to-back champions in Spain — to the next level in the coming seasons.

After spells with Villarreal and Atlético Madrid, Rodri joined City in 2019 and has won almost everything there is to win in the game, both collectively and individually.

In addition to four Premier League titles and a Champions League with Manchester City, he has also won the European Championships and World Cup with Spain, being named player of the tournament at both championships.

Ferran Torres Reportedly Leaving FC Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain

Posted on August 13, 2026 by Tom Castaneda

Ferran Torres is preparing for a twilight in Paris…

The 26-year-old Spanish soccer star and FC Barcelona forward will join European champions after the two clubs reached a deal in principle for around €50 million ($58m), a source confirmed to ESPN.

The transfer is reportedly expected to be completed in the coming days, with Torres due to fly to Paris to complete a medical exam before signing for the French side.

ESPN revealed earlier this week that Barça had rejected an opening offer of €40m from PSG but that negotiations remained ongoing.

Barça were open to keeping Torres, and even extending his contract but, with one year to run on his existing deal, agreed to sanction a move after he asked to leave.

Torres arrives at PSG on a high after scoring the winning goal in the FIFA World Cup final for Spain against Argentina.

He’ll play under Luis Enrique for a second time, having previously worked under the coach when he was Spain boss, and will add depth to one of Europe‘s strongest front lines.

Having started out as a winger, he has moved into a central position in recent years and is expected to be used as a No. 9 in Paris after the departure of Gonçalo Ramos to AC Milan.

Torres netted 21 goals for Barça last season, and his exit will leave the Spanish champions without a clear striker after Robert Lewandowski also left the club this summer, going to the Chicago Fire.

Atlético Madrid‘s Julián Álvarez remains their top target, but they could be forced to look elsewhere with the deal proving hard to get over the line.

Iñigo Martínez Signs Contract Extension with FC Barcelona

Posted on March 13, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Iñigo Martínez is staying put…

The 33-year-old Spanish professional footballer has signed a contract extension at La Liga club FC Barcelona that is set to extend his stay at the club until at least the end of next season.

Barça said the centreback’s new deal had been agreed for some time, but they had to wait to make it official until the club’s issues around financial fair play had adequately eased.

Martínez signed with Barça in 2023 from Athletic Club but injury issues affected his game time.

He has established himself as a regular starter under Hansi Flick this season before suffering a hamstring injury in the Supercopa final last month.

The defender has made 33 appearances for the Catalan side in all competitions this season, scoring three goals.

Rafa Márquez Becomes Assistant Coach for Mexico National Team

Posted on July 21, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Rafa Márquez is preparing for a special homecoming.

The 45-year-old Mexican football coach, former player and head coach of Barcelona Atlètic, the B team of FC Barcelona, and the Mexican Football Federation have finalized a deal for him to become Javier Aguirre‘s assistant with the Mexico national team.

Marquez will as Aguirre’s assistant for the first two years of the contract before succeeding him as head coach after the 2026 World Cup.

He had previously been a candidate to become the head coach of the Barcelona first-team prior to Xavi‘s exit U-turn in April.

Márquez had informed the Catalan club a few days ago that he was going to consider Mexico’s proposal despite having recently committed to Barcelona B until June 2025.

The former Mexico international had other proposals but decided to renew his contract at Barcelona in June following a season in which he came close to clinching promotion to the second division.

Sources told ESPN that Aguirre wants people on his staff who understand his management style and considers Márquez to be the ideal person to replace him after 2026.

Márquez won 147 caps with Mexico during his playing career and shares the record for appearing in five World Cups.

Aguirre will also be joined in Mexico by Toni Amor, his former assistant at Mallorca, and is now looking for a goalkeeping coach to complete his staff.

Premier League Teams Eyeing FC Barcelona Phenom Pau Cubarsí

Posted on February 6, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

It appears that all eyes are on Pau Cubarsí.

The 17-year-old Spanish soccer player, a defender for F.C. Barcelona, is being targeted by several Premier League clubs with his release clause set at around €10 million ($10.7m), per ESPN.

Cubarsí only signed his first professional contract with Barça last year, but his emergence in the first team has accelerated the need for the club to agree a new deal with the teenager.

Barça was already negotiating an improvement with the center-back’s camp, but sources explain his performances with the first team have “changed the starting point” when it comes to reaching an understanding over a new long-term agreement.

Sources close to the coaching staff detail the maturity and bravery Cubarsí has demonstrated since being handed his debut as a 16-year-old in the Copa del Rey against Unionistas de Salamanca in January.

Cubarsí has since made six appearances under coach Xavi Hernández, including starts in LaLiga wins against Real Betis, Osasuna and Alavés.

“We were joking about him the other day because at just 17 he already seems like a veteran,” Xavi said after last weekend’s 3-1 win over Alavés.

“He is already playing like a player who is far older than his years. He is aggressive, he does not lose possession and he’s so good at bringing the ball out from the back.”

Those qualities have led to an urgency to renew Cubarsí’s contract as some of England’s biggest clubs circle due to his clause being fixed at a relatively affordable €10m.

Cubarsí joined Barça in 2018 as an 11-year-old after spending four years at Girona. He has since progressed through the Catalan club’s La Masia academy before he made his Barça Atlétic debut earlier this season as he began to train regularly with the first team.

Xavi handed him his first-team debut on Jan. 19. He has made six appearances since, impressing at the heart of the defense alongside Uruguay international Ronald Araújo.

“He’s very well prepared,” Xavi said of Cubarsí after he made his LaLiga debut against Betis in January, just days before his 17th birthday.

“He doesn’t seem 16 when you speak with him. He is a focused and responsible kid. I don’t think he lost a single ball, either.

“He’s going to mark an era, the same as Lamine [Yamal] .We are continuing to build a team with young footballers. These are players who we must build the club’s future with.”

Cubarsí is one of several youngsters to breakthrough under Xavi, with Yamal (16), Hector Fort (17) and Marc Guiu (18) among the others to have made an impact this season.

Fort, who can play across the back four but is primarily a full-back, is close to being signed to Jorge Mendes‘ agency, sources have told ESPN.

Luis Suárez Wins Brazil League’s Golden Ball Award

Posted on December 7, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

It’s the golden hour for Luis Suárez.

The 36-year-old Uruguayan professional footballer has won the Golden Ball as the player of the season in the Brazilian league ahead of his expected departure from the club.

Suárez, who played with Lionel Messi at Barcelona after several seasons with Liverpool and Ajax, scored 17 goals for Brazilian league runner-up Gremio. The season ended Wednesday with Palmeiras defending its title and Santos being relegated from the top flight for the first time in club history.

Suárez scored two goals on the final day of the season in a 3-2 victory over Fluminense at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

The Brazilian league’s top scorer was Atletico Mineiro forward Paulinho with 20 goals.

Suárez said many times he feared he could not finish the season in Brazil because of intense knee pain and the hassle of long flights, but a selection of journalists voted for him to win the Golden Ball award.

Suárez played 53 matches for Gremio and scored 26 goals in three competitions this season.

“I am almost 37 years old, this is the year I played the most times in my career. It was also the year I was most often distant from my family. This award belongs to them,” a tearful Suárez said after receiving the trophy from former Uruguay teammate Diego Lugano.

When asked about his future, Suárez did not respond, but ESPN sources have said that a deal to move to MLS side Inter Miami CF to play with Lionel Messi again has been agreed.

Suárez said he’ll remember not only Gremio fans, but also those of other clubs who respected him as an opponent.

“It is hard to see rival fans here applaud you when you play, and that did happen to me in some places,” Suárez said. “This is all about the player’s mind, it doesn’t matter how old they are.

“It could be Endrick at age 17, Hulk, Suárez. The mindset and the commitment have to be there for you to play and do what you like.”

Cesc Fabregas Named Temporary Manager of Italy’s Serie B Side Como

Posted on November 13, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Cesc Fabregas is steppin’ in to lead…

The 36-year-old former Spain midfielder will take temporary charge of Italian Serie B side Como, the club confirmed on Monday.

Fabregas will replace Moreno Longo as manager, after the Italian won just 16 of his 45 games in charge.

The job will mark Fabregas’ senior managerial debut.

The former Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea midfielder retired from his playing career in July.

Fabregas played 17 games in Italy’s second-tier with Como last season before taking on the role of the club’s youth team coach.

Como are sixth in the standings and take on Feralpisalo at home on November 25.

FC Barcelona Eyeing Mexico’s Santiago Giménez

Posted on October 31, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Santiago Giménez is getting a lot of attention from FC Barcelona…

The LaLiga football club is tracking the 22-year-old Mexican soccer player and Mexico international despite being aware that competition for the striker will be high and Feyenoord will demand a big fee, according to ESPN.

Giménez has been in explosive form this season, scoring 13 times in 10 Eredivisie appearances and another two in his sole Champions League outing to date, a 3-1 win over Lazio.

Those performances have alerted some of Europe’s biggest clubs, including Barça, with the source adding that the Catalan side have been impressed by how quickly he has adapted to the European game.

Barça have sent various scouts to watch Giménez since he joined Feyenoord from Cruz Azul in 2022, intensifying their monitoring of him in recent weeks.

His goal scoring instinct has been compared to that of Luis Suárez within the club.

Barça will continue to watch him closely in the coming months, with a source adding that he is a player the club are “keeping in mind” for the future, but an immediate deal would face a number of hurdles.

Firstly, Barça have already agreed a deal worth an initial €30 million ($31.7m), potentially rising to €61m with add-ons, for the Athletico Paranaense forward Vitor Roque, reducing the need for more attacking reinforcements.

The Brazil forward will either join the club in January or next summer to provide competition for Robert Lewandowski, although with the Poland striker turning 36 next year and linked with a move to Saudi Arabia last summer, further additions to the frontline have not been completely ruled out.

However, as revealed by ESPN recently, Barça’s current priority is to sign a deep-lying midfielder and two full-backs.

Any business will depend on Barça’s financial situation, too, with the club currently subject to spending restrictions as they are in excess of their LaLiga-imposed cap.

Therefore, it remains unclear whether they will be able to register the signing of Roque in January, as coach Xavi Hernández wants, or if they will have to wait until the summer.

Meanwhile, Feyenoord is also expected to command a big fee for Giménez, whose goals helped them win the Dutch league last season.

There is considered to be a lack of top-level No. 9s available, which has increased the interest in Giménez and is likely to drive up the cost of any permanent transfer.

FC Barcelona Signs Iñigo Martínez on a Free Transfer

Posted on July 5, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Iñigo Martínez is Barcelona bound…

FC Barcelona has announced the signing of the 32-year-old Spanish professional footballer on a free transfer following his departure from Athletic Club.

Martinez joins Barca on a two-year deal and will provide competition at centerback for Ronald Araújo, Andreas Christensen, Jules Koundé and Eric García.

Barca tried to sign Martinez last summer, but they couldn’t agree a fee with Athletic Club, who held on to the Spain international despite at the risk of losing him as a free agent this year.

However, they maintained their interest in bringing him in, with negotiations accelerating at the start of the year after Gerard Pique retired from football.

ESPN reported in March that Barca had reached a verbal agreement with Martinez, who left Athletic Club when his contract expired last month.

Barca’s defense was one of their strengths as they sealed a first LaLiga title since 2019 this season, with Xavi Hernandez‘s side keeping 26 clean sheets in 38 league games.

However, Xavi was keen to add a left-footed centerback to his options, with Martinez also adding experience to what is a relatively young backline.

Martinez began his career with Real Sociedad, making over 200 appearances for the club before joining their Basque rivals Athletic Club in a deal worth €32 million ($34.8m) in 2018.

He made 177 appearances for Athletic and helped the club beat Barca to win the Spanish Super Cup in 2021, but will now embark on the next chapter of his career at the Spanish champions.

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