FC Barcelona News: 31 July 2019

Photo credit should read JOSEP LAGO/AFP/Getty Images

Back to training in Barcelona with a double session | FC Barcelona
The Japan tour and the Rakuten Cup are now just a memory and Barça were back in the more familiar surroundings of the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper on Tuesday. As usual at this stage of the preseason, Ernesto Valverde is running both morning and afternoon workouts as his players continue to get geared up for the start of the season proper.

Suárez and Wague back at work | FC Barcelona
The Barça squad have trained for the second day since returning to Japan and there were two ‘new’ faces among them. Luis Suárez and Moussa Wague are back at work after playing for their respective countries at the Copa América and the African Cup of Nations.

English teams at the Gamper | FC Barcelona
With Arsenal visiting the Camp Nou for the Gamper Trophy match this Sunday (8.00pm CEST), we take a look back at previous appearances by English sides at the competition. And we unearth a number of curious tales involving dodgy penalty shootouts, Maradona’s shirt and a historic first meeting between two countries that had just been at war.

Philippe Coutinho ‘stuck’ at Barcelona | Football Espana
Out-of-favour Barcelona playmaker Philippe Coutinho looks set to stay at the club this summer, report El Mundo Deportivo. The Brazil international has cut a frustrated figure for the Catalan club this season, finding starting opportunities limited at the club and struggling to find consistent form.

Zenit accelerate move for Malcom | Marca
Barcelona winger Malcom has been strongly lined with a move to Zenit Saint Petersburg and the deal seems to be closer than ever. It is clear that Malcom is not a part of Ernesto Valverde’s plans, while Barcelona need to recoup some money in order to fund their transfer activity for the rest of the window.

Barcelona should avoid Neymar move for many reasons, says former board member | Goal
Bringing Neymar back to Barcelona would not be in the club’s best interest, according to former board member Toni Freixa. Freixa was a board member during the presidencies of Joan Laporta, Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu, as well as a candidate during the 2015 presidential election.

How Barcelona spent almost €1bn in five years without winning the Champions League | Goal
In fact, the outlay lies at an enormous €966 million (£885m/$1078m) since the Blaugrana last lifted the trophy in 2015, a staggering amount of money when you consider the manner in which they were dumped out by Roma and Liverpool in consecutive years despite holding significant first-leg advantages.

Only five million euros separate Barça and Betis over Junior deal | Sport
FC Barcelona are keen to sign a left-back and hope to have a deal in place for one this week, before Ernesto Valverde’s side travel to the United States. It’s for that reason that the club have intensified talks with Real Betis over Junior Firpo. Betis are now ready to lower their demands but an agreement is not yet in place.

Reports: Manchester United keen on Barça defender Umtiti | Sport
According to French website ‘le10sport.com’, Manchester United are interested in Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti. Manchester City, coached by Pep Guardiola, have been linked with the France international before but it’s their city rivals now said to be keen on a move.

Barça are yet to receive a single offer for Samuel Umtiti this summer | Sport
Unless there’s a late change, Samuel Umtiti will remain at FC Barcelona this season. Despite reports in England which suggested that Manchester United had launched a bid for Umtiti, the club insists that they’ve yet to receive a single offer for the World Cup winner this summer. Barça are open to letting Umtiti leave for the right price but, at the same time, would be happy to keep the defender on their books.

False bomb threat targeting Messi and Suarez’s car at Barcelona airport | Marca
A phone call made to the emergency services that claimed there was a suspicious package under Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez’s car at Barcelona’s El Prat airport has turned out to be a false alarm. A call was made to 112, alerting the emergency services of a suspicious package under the car of the Barcelona stars, but security services with search dogs have confirmed that there were no explosives under the car.

Barça managed to avoid losing Carles Perez to Valencia for free | Sport
The winger is one of Barça B’s best players and SuperDeporte say he was close to agreeing to move to Valencia recently. Perez was out of contract in 2018 and Valencia moved quickly to try and bring him in for free. They made an appealing offer, but Barça managed to convince him to renew.

FC Barcelona launches ‘Gallina de piel’ range in honour of Johan Cruyff | FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona has launched a new collection of exclusive clothes and accessories called Gallina de piel in honour of the late, great Johan Cruyff. The different products can only be purchased in the Barça Store at the Camp Nou, and go on sale in a special space on the first floor from August 1.

Source: barcablaugranes.com