XAVI: LAMINE YAMAL WAS ROBBED OF THE BALLON D'OR
Xavi Insists Lamine Yamal Truly Deserved the Ballon d’Or
In a recent interview with MARCA, former Barcelona manager Xavi was candid about Lamine Yamal, the rising star who has ignited the football world.
The man who gave Yamal his first shot and made his debut, Xavi, looked back on the prodigy's ascent and lavished him with admiration for his brilliance.
"I'm really proud of Lamine's accomplishments and that I gave him the chance to make his debut." Even though he was just fifteen, I could see that he was well-prepared.
He made a difference in training, and I could see that he was highly talented and self-assured. He had nothing to be scared of.
He had an impact from day one. He can leave his stamp on international football, and in my opinion, he is one of the selected ones. "He has no fears or complexes at all," Xavi remarked.
He was making a difference in training, and I could see he was highly skilled and self-assured. He had no fears.
He had an impact right away. He is one of the chosen ones, in my opinion, and he has the potential to influence football globally. He doesn't have any anxieties or complexes," Xavi remarked.
Lamine Yamal deserved the Ballon d'Or.
Xavi spoke bluntly but realistically when asked if Yamal should have received the Ballon d'Or instead of Ousmane Dembele.
"The collective titles were more significant this time. He earned it, in my opinion. Also deserving were Vitinha, Salah, Pedri, and Raphinha.
Even if a lot of people deserve it, titles ultimately have greater significance. It'll go to Lamine. However, I'm not sure till his team wins the World Cup or the Champions League.
The explosion of Yamal under Xavi Xavi also asked himself if he had anticipated Yamal's quick ascent after making his debut.
Yes, without a doubt. We discussed it with the personnel. We declared him worthy of a Ballon d'Or.
"As you watch him train, you notice a change right away; you realise that he was one of the chosen ones."
He continued by talking about the function of midfielders in contemporary football and how, although Vitinha, Pedri, and De Jong frequently control games, great players like Lamine and Dembele can make the difference at pivotal times.
"The players who control games are Vitinha, Pedri, and De Jong. I used to be like that. I was present.
"They are crucial, but in close games, there are the selected ones like Dembelé, Lamine, and others from the past," he said.
THE CAMP NOU PLAN: BARCELONA PREFERS A SECOND LOAN FOR MARCUS RASHFORD
Barcelona aims for a new Marcus Rashford loan, but Manchester United demands a permanent $35 million deal this summer.
Barcelona is reportedly aiming to arrange a new loan deal to keep Manchester United winger Marcus Rashford at Camp Nou beyond this season. Rashford joined Barcelona last summer on a deal that includes an option to buy him permanently for about $35 million (£26 million). His performances of 10 goals and 13 assists in 38 games have impressed, and interest in continuing the partnership seems strong. However, club president Joan Laporta has recently indicated that a permanent deal is unlikely this summer.
According to the Daily Mail, this reluctance isn’t due to waning interest in Rashford but more about Barcelona wanting to delay paying the full transfer fee at the end of the current campaign.
Looking at United’s side, last summer, they felt pushed into a corner. Rashford was keen on moving to Barcelona, and United had already labelled his wages as unsustainable. This left them with minimal leverage and forced them to accept a purchase clause well below what Rashford’s market value might actually be. Since his rise in Catalonia, the $35 million price tag arguably represents a bargain.
Reports have since suggested that United won’t open further talks with Barcelona this year without the purchase clause being triggered. They’ve warned that if Barcelona doesn’t act, Rashford could be sold elsewhere to the highest bidder.
That said, the latest information indicates United might accept another loan, provided it includes an obligatory purchase clause. This would allow United to count on the transfer fee as part of their next season’s budget, similar to if the option were exercised now.
A key difference would be the timing of the payments. United hopes for a full payment this summer, but Barcelona seems keen to push this back. A potential new loan deal might involve a partial payment at the season’s end, with the rest due in 2027.
This approach would still frustrate United. They know Rashford could fetch more elsewhere, but his preference to stay at Barcelona narrows their options. His weekly wages, approximately $435,000 (£325,000), add pressure to move him on quickly. If Barcelona is the only club he’ll join, United may find themselves forced to accept similar terms as last summer.
On the broader front, United’s transfer plans add urgency. The club needs to reshape the squad, especially in central midfield, where Casemiro’s departure has left a significant gap. Some reports suggest United might spend up to $270 million (£200 million) just in that area, alongside other potential signings. So raising funds from player sales is crucial.
While one might think United would push for a full, permanent sale now to maximise income, modern transfers often involve flexible payment structures. Payment plans can stretch over several years, and clubs can record the fee as income upfront when a purchase obligation exists, even if the full sum isn’t received immediately. This means United could record the $35 million from Rashford’s transfer this summer even if Barcelona pays in instalments.
That said, United will still want some immediate cash to kick-start their transfer activity. Barcelona would likely need to front a substantial portion of the fee this summer to persuade United to finalise a deal. But the pressure to have all $35 million on hand right now isn’t as great as it may seem.
DISCOVER JOAN LAPORTA’S BOLD FIVE YEAR PLAN TO RESTORE BARCELONA’S GLOBAL DOMINANCE
Joan Laporta secures a fourth term as Barcelona president, promising a golden era ahead of the UCL clash with Newcastle.
The election fight had wrapped up, with Victor Font outmanoeuvred without much resistance. But for Joan Laporta, the real challenge is just getting started reviving Barcelona’s position atop European football.
This Wednesday, Newcastle comes to Camp Nou for the Champions League round of 16, the tie delicately balanced after a 1-1 draw in England last week. Eddie Howe’s side enters as underdogs but has shown they can pose a real threat, leaving Laporta’s hopes hanging in the air.
Laporta described the last five years as pulling Barcelona back from the brink, taking over a club drowning in debt. Now, the goal is to build on that shaky foundation and push the team beyond last season’s semi-final finish, the first in six years. If Barca can go one step further and win in Budapest, Laporta might not even be officially in charge yet.
His new term, actually his fourth overall and second consecutive, officially begins in July. Until then, interim president Rafa Yuste manages the day-to-day. Laporta expressed support, saying if Yuste lifts the Champions League trophy, it’ll be "wonderful".
Behind the scenes, though, it’s clear 63-year-old Laporta remains the driving force. On election day, he mingled with club legends and key figures past and present, including Sergio Busquets, who helped bring home three Champions League titles.
That last Barca European triumph dates back over ten years to the Messi era, when the club seemed untouchable. Letting Messi go just months after Laporta returned in 2021 was a tough blow, a rare blemish on his record. Delays returning to a partially renovated Camp Nou and registration missteps over Dani Olmo added to a rocky start.
Many worried when Laporta pulled the "palancas", those financial tools to raise cash by selling future TV rights and assets, fearing it might cripple the club long-term. Yet, at least for now, that high-risk move has helped. Laporta and sporting director Deco backed signings like Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Kounde – moves aimed at restoring Barca’s elite status – and it seems to be paying off.
Their boldest call was hiring Hansi Flick, a bet on his style that has brought excitement and success. Barca clinched a domestic treble last season and reached the Champions League semi-finals, though it fell short against Inter Milan. Defensive frailties remain a concern, especially with Newcastle looking to exploit Barca’s high defensive line.
Still, on the bright side, Barca boasts young talents like winger Lamine Yamal and midfielder Pedri Gonzalez, arguably two of the best in the world at their positions.
After his win, Laporta confidently declared the coming five years would be “the best years of our lives", a bold statement considering he steered the club through Ronaldinho’s era, Messi’s rise, and Guardiola’s treble-winning team in 2009.
With Camp Nou reopening to nearly 63,000 fans and plans to expand to 105,000, Laporta believes the club’s financial health has improved enough to compete with wealthy Gulf-backed teams like Newcastle, now owned by Saudi interests.
“No one can stop us,” Laporta said, energised by victory. But given Barca’s mixed European fortunes over the last decade, doubts linger about whether they can overcome internal challenges.
Newcastle’s visit offers a chance to kick off Laporta’s new chapter with a statement win and push further into the Champions League quarter-finals. It’s an opportunity Barca can’t afford to miss.
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