Spain’s Football Association, La Liga has issued a statement in an attempt to defuse the pending Lionel Messi and Barcelona feud that has made huge headlines around the world.

According to a statement issued by La Liga, the 700m euros (£624m) release clause in Lionel Messi’s Barcelona contract is still valid.

On Tuesday,Messi, 33, communicated his intentions of leaving the club via fax adding that, he wouldn’t partake in the pre-season medical on Sunday as part of activities by the club to follow safety rules and protocols ahead of the new season.

Barcelona held the stance that the player would have walked free in June but that deadline elapsed as he failed to take up the option of leaving back then.

In a statement issued by  La Liga, it has however suggested that, if any club wishes to sign the current world best player, they would have to meet his existing buyout clause.

“In compliance with the applicable rule, La Liga will not approve a request to be de-registered as a player with the Spanish football federation, unless the amount in the release clause has been paid,” the body said in a statement.

Messi was due at Barcelona’s training ground at 10.15am local time on Sunday but did not attend.

It remains uncertain whether Messi’s camp will heed to this new statement that has been issued by Spain’s top football hierarchy or pursue the case to the latter.

Former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Touré has suggested the possibility of a change to Pep Guardiola following the club’s fourth successive Champions League knockout.

According to the midfielder, the current ManCity manager has failed to deliver on his expected mandate in four years that he has been at the helm of affairs despite the heavy financial backing he receives from the club’s superiors in the transfer market.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, Touré said that Spaniard has failed to win the Champions League, a trophy the club has longed for since the inception of the competition.

“Pep has been signed to bring the trophy to the club, and when you see your opponents like Liverpool win the trophy without doing a lot in the transfer market, it becomes quite strange and disappointing.

Everybody knows Pep is a great manager, but when things aren’t going your way, sometimes it’s time for change.”

It’s incredible how Pep has established the Citizens into a real competitive force on the domestic font, winning eight trophies in four years but lots of supporters, stakeholders are in dire need of a continental trophy to cement their status on the European scene.

“It is going to be complicated. From what I know, Messi loves Barcelona. He loves the city, he loves the club, he loves the philosophy there.

But if he had to leave the club, maybe he could come to City. Why? Because City have the money to buy him and there are only a few clubs in the Premier League who can afford him, to be honest.

“If he comes to City he is going to be good for City because the rest of the Premier League is quite intense and hard as well. The way Messi plays, few managers are going to love him because he just sits off to the side and does not want to defend much.



“But if he came to England, I could see him playing for City because Guardiola knows him better and he could put him in this City team to play his football. I have a little bit of doubt that he is going to leave Barcelona, to be honest. Barcelona all boils down to Messi. If Messi leaves there is going to be a massive gap.”

Yaya switched clubs from Barcelona for Manchester City in 2010 after a fall out with Pep Guardiola, who had taken over the job at the time going on to enjoying a steller number of years with the Blues.

Barcelona has had lots of on and off issues, axing manager Quique Setien, Sporting Director Eric Abidal, and are set to make wholesale changes to the first team according to club president Josep Bartomeu in the summer would lots of big names set to be offloaded.

It’s unsure whether, after many years of association with the Catalans, Messi would be willing to switch sides.

Asante Kotoko midfield kingpin, Richard Senanu has disclosed his dreams of playing for Spanish giants Barcelona.

The defensive midfielder is a big fan of the La Liga outfit, revealing his admiration for their style of play.

”Barcelona is my team. I like the team and the way they play.  l really love with their style of play,” he told Agboo FM.

“I want to play Barcelona one day,” he added.

Senanu returned from a lengthy injury, which saw him missed the first half of the cancelled 2019/20 Ghana Premier League.

The swashbuckling midfielder was a key member of the team that represented Ghana in the CAF Confederations Cup in 2018, before suffering an injury in the game against Zesco.

The Kumasi based outfit have been supportive in the player’s recovery, sending him to Germany for surgery.

”Kotoko have done a lot for me and they have really helped me,” said Senanu.

He is expected to make a return to competitive football when the Ghana Premier League resumes in October.



source: Ghanasoccernet

Out of favor Barcelona player, Philippe Coutinho is reportedly set to join Arsenal on a season-long loan. The player’s agent, Kia Joorabchian, has been given the nod to negotiate a move away from the Catalan side to London.

Coutinho has failed to make his mark in a star-studded Barcelona team that houses the likes of Messi, Suarez, Antoine Griezemann and thus had to ship out to Bavarian giants Bayern Münich for a loan move, which proved largely unsuccessful after the bosses failed to legitimize his loan into a permanent one.

The Catalan outfit for some time now has been looking at possible alternatives to off-load the 28-year-old for a long time now, and it is known that the Brazilian favors a move to the Premier League with Arsenal, Tottenham, and Newcastle all set to be swooping for his signature.

According to reports from SunSet, the player favors a move to the red half of London than his other suitors lined all over Europe.

The summer transfer is yet to open and it won’t be long before we see the Brazilian playmaker donning the colors of a new setup next season.

Kevin-Prince Boateng is set to return to his club Sassuolo when his loan deal with Barcelona expires at the end of the season, Sahara Football understands.

The Ghanaian midfielder signed for Barcelona in January but have only made two appearances for the Spanish club.

Boateng has been omitted from the Barcelona match squad list on several occasions, media houses in Spain has labeled him one of the worst signings the club have made.

Kwesi Appiah will be sacked if he fails to win 2019 AFCON – Kofi Amoah

According to Gazzetta di Modena Boateng’s contract is unlikely to be extended and he will return to the Italian club in the summer when his loan deal expires.

Kevin-Prince Boateng’s contract with Sassuolu runs till 2020.

According to Marca, Thieves raided his home for jewelry, watches, and cash – valued at €300-400,000,

Boateng played the last half hour at the Nou Camp as a substitute for Luis Suarez.

He has become the latest player in Ernesto Valverde’s side to be targeted.



Jordi Alba suffered the same fate during a trip to Milan to play Inter in the Champions League earlier this season.

CONVOCATORIA
#GironaBarça
#ForçaBarça pic.twitter.com/hNsOQBz9O4

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) January 26, 2019

Kevin-Prince Boateng featured in the last game where Barcelona suffered defeat against Sevilla in the Copa del Rey. Barcelona will look to continue their great form after securing seven victories in their last seven games. The sit on top of the La Liga, five points above second place Atletico Madrid.

Reports in Spain are suggesting that the 31-year old forward might make his debut on Wednesday as he is being tipped to start upfront alongside Suarez and Malcom.

The Ghanaian have clearly impressed his new boss in the Tuesday training sessions and that is why he was picked for the game. Messi and Dembele were left out of the squad.

CONVOCATÒRIA
Sevilla – Barça
#CopaBarça pic.twitter.com/UEWiMM4FTS

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_cat) January 22, 2019

Kevin-prince joined Barcelona from Sassuolo on loan till the end of the season, with an option to buy.

Here is @KPBofficial, Barça´s new signing
#EnjoyPrince
pic.twitter.com/5RyqGMP7vz

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 21, 2019

“Barça, I’m coming! I’m sad to leave Sassuolo but is a great chance,” Kevin Prince Boateng told Sky Sports.

Reporters were quick to ask him about comments he made in 2017 stating that he preferred Real Madrid to Barcelona but the talented forward was quick to address the issue.

“Don’t ask me about Real Madrid… is just the past! I only want to focus on Barcelona and I hope to score at Bernabéu for the next Clásico.”

Boateng only joined Sassuolo in the summer and has scored four goals in 13 Serie A outings, recently playing in a more advanced role.

***Update.

Barcelona have confirmed the signing of Kevin-Prince Boateng

All the details about the new @FCBarcelona player @KPBofficial
#EnjoyPrince https://t.co/sKC2y1Evxw

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 21, 2019