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"It's a definite decision but a difficult one." Spanish legend, Xavi announces Barcelona exit.

After spending two decades in the club, spanish midfield maestro Xavi Hernandez at a press conference today officially announced his exit from his childhood club, Barcelona FC. He will be moving to Al Sadd in Qatar.
The 35-year-old joined the Blaugrana as an 11-year-old in 1991 before making his debut in 1998. He has won 8 La Liga titles, 2 Spanish Cups and 3 Champions League trophies.
If he wins one more title in the coming weeks, he will become the most decorated player in Spanish football history
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“I would like to announce and confirm my departure from Barca at the end of the season. It’s a definite decision but a difficult one.




“I’ve been at the club for almost 25 years but this is the time for me to leave. I have a thrilling project in Qatar, I will play for Al-Sadd the next two seasons.
“I also have an enthusiastic project in the Aspire academy (a sporting academy based in Qatar). I will be able to work towards becoming a coach or a sporting director in the future.
“My hope and aim is for one day to return to work for Barca. I did well to remain for another season even though I’ve had less playing time. Barca recently offered me a contract extension until June 2018 but the decision had been taken.
“I could not have asked for a better career and I want to thank the Barca fans, who have treated me very well. I’m very happy with how things have gone and I leave having given everything.”
I’m looking forward to lift the Liga trophy in front of the fans on Saturday. They’ve treated me incredibly, I want to say goodbye. A few teammates knew it already. 
Today, I’ve formally told it to the whole squad and the coach. But it was already clear for a while. But I’m perfectly happy. I’ve had the best career I could have at Barça.
It hasn’t always been easy. There were a lot of doubters at the start. But I’m very stubborn, and very culer. I didn’t tell my mother about Barcelona’s renewal offer, because she’s an even bigger Barça fan than me. 
“I still have to talk with Guardiola about Qatar, we already exchanged some messages. I’ve already talked with Raul. It will be difficult to put on another shirt. I’ve worn the Barça shirt since I was 10-11. There are three games left now.
“I will miss Leo, Andres, Busi, Pedro, all my friends… But that’s life.”Fans gave me goosebumps wit their chants of ‘Xavi, quedate’ (Xavi, stay). Makes you think, but it’s the right moment to go.”‎

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Entertainment

Champions League final: Barcelona to invite Guardiola, Rijkaard, Venables and Cruyff as special guests.

Barcelona FC’s former managers, Pep Guardiola, Terry Venables, Johan Cruyff and Frank Rijkaard‎ will be invited as guests of honor at the Champions League final coming up in‎ Berlin on June 6.

Barcelona vice-president Jordi Cardoner who disclosed this added that having the quartet who coached the team La Blaugrana in at least one European Cup final would be a huge honour.

“It would mean a lot to us for the four of them to be at the‎ Olympia stadion in Berlin on June 6, on what will be a very special day for the club,” Cardoner said.


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Entertainment, Sports

Photos: Barcelona celebrate La Liga win

A goal from Lionel Messi was enough‎ for Spanish club, Barcelona  to secure the 2015 La Liga trophy and their 23rd title. The winning goal was delivered by the Argentine winger at the 65th minute of the game.
Exactly one year after Atletico won the Liga at the Camp Nou, The Blaugrana  have won the Liga at Atletico’s Vicente Calderon stadium.
Barcelona‎ players and coaches were in high spirits after defeating the 2014 La Liga champions at the 37th game of the season. They took to the pitch and dressing room to celebrate their well-deserved victory.‎
Barcelona now have a game left in the season. With 4 points behind rival, Real Madrid; the outcome of their next game i.e win, lose or draw will be insignificant.
Photo Credit: Twitter
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Entertainment

Thomas Vermaelen could cost Barcelona £3 million for winning Champions League

Premier League club, Arsenal will net a £3m windfall from Thomas Vermaelen’s transfer package if Barcelona win the 2015 Champions League next month

Oh my! Here’s a player who hasn’t played for the Catalans because of his injury. Recall that the Belgian defender left the Emirates for Spain on August 9, 2014 for a fee around £15 million and part of the agreement was that the Gunners will be £3 million richer if Barcelona win the Champions League.

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Entertainment

"I will not say what I think of Messi" Pep Guardiola

Bayern Munich coach, Pep Guardiola was visibly pained yesterday after  Barcelona’s Lionel Messi caused a stir in the Champions League  match against Bayern last night by scoring two goals and setting up the third for teammate, Neymar.

He praised his team and insisted his men controlled the game well but lost their grip after the visitors’ first goal. He also commended the Blaugrana’s team efforts but did not acknowledge the brilliance of the man of the match.

” I will not say what I think of Messi. They are not just Leo, Barca are a very good team . They were very solid , in defence and attack . They have great players , Neymar , Luis Suarez . We tried to control the game so that Messi would not participate so much . We were 15 minutes away from a very good
result . ‎”

Bayern would need 4goals to knock their opponents out of the race. The Spaniard ‎who coached the spanish team for over 3 years doubts that his team will turn things around when they meet for the second leg.

“You can turn around a one or two-goal deficit, but three is tough.”‎ He added.

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Entertainment

Angel Di Maria on Barcelona's radar

Barcelona FC are reportedly looking to replace their outgoing midfield ace, Xavi Hernandez with Argentine international, Angel di Maria. According to sources, the Manchester United midfielder is far from happy with his current situation in Old Trafford and he’s seeking an exit.
The 27 year-old winger who left Real Madrid for the English team in the summer of 2014 at a record of £75 million, featured in 21 of Manchester United’s 30 Premier League matches so far is also on french club, Paris Saint Germain’s radar.
Although Barcelona are currently banned from signing any player since 2016, the club is confident of signing him come January.
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Entertainment

UCL Quarter-finals draw: See who your favourite team has been paired with

The official result of the Uefa Champions. League draw is out. Which quarter-final are you looking forward to most? For me it’s Real Madrid Vs Athletico Madrid. Some interesting tie there. Matches will be played on April 14/15 and 21/22 2015.
(1) Paris Saint Germain vs Barcelona
(2) Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid,
(3) FC Porto vs Bayern Munich
(4) Juventus vs AS Monaco
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Entertainment, Sports

Suarez wants the English press to show him some respect.

Stories/footages of Uruguayan forward, Luis Suarez allegedly  trying to bite Demichelis during the UCL game between Barcelona and Man City two days ago2-1 have surfaced online.

‎Despite this new development, neither Demichelis nor the club are interested in pressing charges. Infact, no accusations have been officially made from the Etihad quarters.

Recall that Suarez who stole the show and provided two of the 3 goals scored during the match has been suspended on three occasions for biting opponents.
The Barcelona striker while vehemently denying the claims slammed the British press of blowing the matter out of proportion.

 ‘He Demichelis put his hand on my throat. I do not‎ understand why the English media want to do this. They want to make trouble – a mountain out of a molehill.’ They must be hurt after what I did to them in the World Cup but they forget that I played in England and they should show me some respect.’ He told ‎Uruguayan radio station Sport890‎.
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Entertainment

Barcelona name training pitch after late coach

Barcelona Football Club has named it’s training pitch at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper facility after former coach, Tito Vilanova. Recall that Tito who succeeded Pep Guardiola died April last year at the age of 45 fter a long time battle with throat cancer.
Club president, Josep Maria Bartomeu said, “From now on, all generations that come to train at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper will know who Tito Vilanova was.”
Tito’s wife, Montse Chaure who was present at the event today appreciated the honour.
“Tito loved coming here. He said it was a privilege to train the best team in the world and he loved the players. This is the best way to remember him-  everyone together and with a smile.” She enthused.
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Entertainment

Lionel Messi finally addresses Barca-Chelsea move

Waiting for Lionel Messi’s side of the Barcelona-Chelsea story for the past few days was a bit torturous. The talisman has branded rumours of his move to Premier League clubs, Chelsea or Manchester City as lies.
The rumours of his exit from the Catalan club were fuelled after he followed Chelsea and their players Thibaut Courtois and Filipe Luis on twitter about a week ago.
The Argentine set the records straight  on Barca TV.
“I don’t intend to leave, not to Chelsea, not to Manchester
City. Everything they say is lies and I want everyone to know,
that everything that’s been said is false”, Messi affirmed.

‎The ‎27 year-old player who is presently at Zurich for the 2014 Ballon d’Or awards last night received an award for being top-scorer in La Liga.
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