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SPECIAL TALENT: LAMINE YAMAL'S 73 GOALS/ASSISTS THREATEN CHELSEA'S DEFENSE

Chelsea's Marc Cucurella jokingly warns he's ready for a "brutal battle" against Barcelona's Lamine Yamal. The Spanish teammates face off at Stamford Bridge, with Cucurella also comparing Yamal to Chelsea's Estevao.

Special Talent: Lamine Yamal's 73 Goals/Assists Threaten Chelsea's Defense
Yamal Warning Sent Via Estevao Willian

Chelsea's Marc Cucurella jokingly warned Lamine Yamal that he's ready for a tough match as Chelsea hosts Barcelona tonight at Stamford Bridge.

Cucurella will face his Spanish teammate for the first time, with the Blues left-back tasked with stopping one of Europe's most dangerous forwards.

Yamal has been a sensation since joining Barca's first team in 2023. The 18-year-old has scored 31 goals and assisted 42 in 127 games for the team across all competitions.

The Spain international has quickly become a feared opponent for full-backs, but Cucurella seems eager for the challenge tonight.

It's hard to play against guys like that because they're super talented, Cucurella said. It's not just Lamine against Cucurella; it's a big game. We all need to step up.

Cucurella jokingly added that he's told Estevao Willian to wear shin pads in training as he prepares for the game against Barcelona.

Because of their age, position, and skill, people have compared Estevao and Yamal.

When asked to compare them, Cucurella said, They're both special players with loads of talent. They always want the ball and try to take players on. They can decide games.

Maybe the only difference is that Lamine has been playing in Europe for a few seasons, and Estevao is just arriving. But he's doing great, improving all the time.

They're both funny guys who love the game and always have a smile on their faces. If they're happy, they play well.

Enzo Maresca is happy with how Estevao is settling in and improving. Maresca thinks Estevao, who didn't play in the win over Burnley on Saturday, could become a big player at Stamford Bridge. However, the Italian didn't want to put too much pressure on the Brazilian by comparing him to Yamal.

Estevao will be an important player for this club, Maresca said. For me, the most important thing is that he enjoys playing, is happy, and focuses on improving himself every day. If he works hard, he'll become a top player for this club.

REPORT: HANSI FLICK RELEGATES MARC-ANDRé TER STEGEN TO THIRD CHOICE; GIRONA MOVE NOW HIGHLY LIKELY

Girona are planning a shock January loan for Marc-André ter Stegen. Can the Catalan side agree on wages with Barcelona today?

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Ter Stegen To Leave Barcelona

Girona's management is planning to sign a big La Liga player: Barcelona's Marc-André ter Stegen.

Mundo Deportivo recently reported Girona's surprising interest, saying they're ready to get the German keeper this winter if they get a chance.

Signing a player like him costs a lot, but Girona is determined to do what it takes to make their team stronger. They can't afford to buy him outright, so they're looking at a loan. For that to happen, either Ter Stegen or Barcelona needs to give up quite a bit of money.

Girona thinks the 33-year-old German would quickly fix their goalie problem. They're hoping his presence will steady the defense and bring leadership.

The report also mentions that the player is open to the move. At 33, he needs to play every week to stay the starting goalie for Germany in the next World Cup.

Barcelona seems okay with letting him go for a while, but the money is still the issue. Girona just can't afford his full salary without help.

It all depends on two things: Barcelona will have to pay part of his wages, or Ter Stegen must take a pay cut to join Estadi Montilivi. Previous reports said Barcelona doesn't want to force their captain out. Aston Villa has also reportedly reached out to the German.

Barcelona should value the player more than his salary.

Barcelona needs to be smart about this. They need to protect their finances while taking care of a club legend who still has a lot of value. There's no point in keeping a top earner on the bench. Instead, the team should make the loan happen to keep him in shape all season.

If the German just sits around, his transfer value will drop. The club would also lose their advantage when it's time to sell him later. Joan Laporta and Deco should work out a deal where they cover some of his pay. They should view that cost as an investment to keep his value high, not just waste money.

Looking ahead, this move seems like the end of Ter Stegen's time at Camp Nou. If he leaves now, it clearly shows that Barcelona is moving on to younger goalies. The clubs will probably find a compromise on the wages soon. Everyone wants this to happen. Girona gets a top-notch goalie, Barcelona eases some tension in the locker room, and Ter Stegen gets to chase his World Cup dreams.

BARCELONA MOVE FOR FORMER LA MASIA STAR ADRIAN BERNABé BEFORE VALUE SKYROCKETS

Barcelona is eyeing a reunion with La Masia graduate Adrian Bernabé. Discover how the Parma star became an affordable target.

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Barcelona Eyes Affordable January Fix

Barcelona is super aware that money is tight, and they can't just sign anyone they want. They need to be smart about who they bring in, focusing on players who won't break the bank and who will fit how the team plays.

With this in mind, Barca has been watching a familiar face: Adrian Bernabe. He used to play in Barca's youth system and has been doing well in Italy, according to Fichajes.

The club thinks he's grown into a player who would do well in their current system. At 24, he's a key player for Parma and could be a good addition to the team.

Bernabe is mainly a central midfielder. He left Barcelona for Manchester City back in 2018, hoping to learn a lot. He played a bit under Pep Guardiola but didn't get a ton of playing time because of the competition.

That's why he moved to Parma in 2021, which seemed like a step down at the time. But it was a good move. Parma trusted him and gave him a big role, which helped him grow.

He really stepped up as a leader, running the midfield and controlling the game. He was a big part of Parma getting promoted to Serie A, and this season he's been playing great.

Barcelona likes Bernabe because he's got skills, vision, and understands how to play his position. He's good at moving the ball, making smart passes, and playing with discipline. Plus, he can shoot from far out and is good on set pieces, which is a bonus.

This wouldn't be a huge signing, but it fits with what Barcelona is trying to do right now, which is get players who are ready to play right away without costing too much. The fact that Bernabe came up through La Masia and played under Guardiola is a plus.

He's got a contract with Parma until 2027, so Barca would have to talk to them to make a deal. Still, his age, how much he makes, and his familiarity with Barcelona's style of play make him an affordable option.

Apparently, people close to Bernabe are happy about Barcelona's interest, but there's no rush to make anything happen just yet.

Barcelona will keep watching him as things progress. Bringing back a former player who has developed somewhere else would suit the club's current plans.

They're definitely interested; they like what he can do, and he's still an option as Barcelona tries to strengthen the team without losing sight of their values.

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