FC Barcelona News: 30 July 2019

Photo by Masashi Hara/Getty Images

Barcelona return to training without Gerard Pique | Sport
FC Barcelona returned to training on Tuesday after arriving back in Catalonia from Japan on Sunday. The first team players trained under the eye of coach Ernesto Valverde in a morning session at the Ciutat Esportiva. Gerard Pique, who missed Saturday’s win over Vissel Kobe, was unable to train with his teammates.

Valverde is delighted with Barça defenders Todibo and Araújo | Sport
The two games in Japan allowed Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde to take a proper look at Jean-Clair Todibo and Ronald Araújo and see that he can have confidence in them if needed. The coaches are delighted with the performances of the two young centre-backs and have translated to the club that they will use them depending on the needs of the team during the season.

Zenit say “conversations for Malcom are at an advanced stage” | Sport
Zenit Saint Petersburg’s president and director general Alexander Metvedev has confirmed the club’s interest in signing Malcom from Barcelona. ”Negotiations for Malcom are advanced with Barcelona and we’re going through an active and decisive phase,” he told Fontanka.

Miami, from El Clásico to Napoli-Barça | FC Barcelona
Barça return to a special place that holds good memories. Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, which once hosted a Barça v Real Madrid fixture, will now be the venue for Napoli v Barça.

Paris Saint-Germain are now asking for 180 million euros for Neymar | Sport
Negotiating with Paris Saint-Germain has never been easy and for Barcelona it’s been impossible. A deal to bring Neymar back was seen as a pipe dream weeks ago, but the player’s determination to leave the French club has opened the door.

Sources: Man United’s Darmian on Barca radar | ESPN
Barcelona are considering Manchester United’s Matteo Darmian as a low-cost alternative to first-choice left-back targets Junior Firpo, Philipp Max and David Alaba, sources have told ESPN FC. Head coach Ernesto Valverde wants Barca to push through a move for Real Betis’ Junior this week, while Augsburg’s Max is another target.

Time for Barcelona to roll up their sleeves | Marca
Now that Barcelona are back in Catalonia, it’s time for them to resolve some of the situations they put on hold before going to Japan. They need to fulfil their transfer market needs and offload some players as soon as possible. Like every summer since arriving, Ernesto Valverde has asked for a smaller squad as he believes it’s the best way to have all of the players at his disposal completely switched on and focused on the job at hand.

‘Barcelona interest shocked me’ - Bayern ace Thiago opens up on childhood and future plans | Goal
After impressing at Barcelona’s famed academy, Thiago eventually made the step up to the first team and he loved learning from his more experienced team-mates. “As a professional, I’m not a guy who could get impressed with players, but I have a lot of respect for them,” the midfielder went on.

Gerard Pique’s FC Andorra take final Segunda B place | Football Espana
FC Andorra, the team owned by Barcelona defender Gerard Pique, have been promoted to Segunda B to replace crisis-stricken Reus. Pique deposited the €452,022 fee for his club to be promoted into the third level of Spanish football to replace Reus, who had been automatically demoted from the second flight midway through last season due to their financial woes.

Source: barcablaugranes.com