FC Barcelona News: 12 September 2019

Photo credit should read JOSEP LAGO/AFP/Getty Images

Ter Stegen, Suárez, Aleñá and De Jong, new faces in training | FC Barcelona
More training and more new faces. On Wednesday Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez completed part of the session with the rest of the group following on from his injury in the first league game of the season in San Mamés against Athletic Club. Elsewhere, Ter Stegen, Aleñá and Frenkie de Jong rejoined the squad following international duty with their respective nationals sides.

International week: How did it go? | FC Barcelona
Our players featured in a number of Euro 2020 qualification games and other matches for their countries this week. Let’s take stock of how they all got on.

Messi yet to mingle with Griezmann & wants ‘more professional’ Dembele | Goal
Lionel Messi admits he has had little contact with Antoine Griezmann since the Frenchman arrived at Barcelona and is looking for Ousmane Dembele to be “more professional” in 2019-20. The reigning Liga champions have added to their collection of World Cup winners with Griezmann having joined fellow countrymen Dembele and Samuel Umtiti in Catalunya.

Messi isn’t in Barcelona contract talks but wants to stay for ‘as long as possible’ | Goal
Lionel Messi has eased fears regarding an exit clause in his contract at Barcelona, stating that he wants to stay at the club for “as long as possible”, but admits he is not discussing fresh terms. It has been revealed that the Argentine superstar can walk away from Camp Nou at the end of the season, if he so wishes.

Messi: I would’ve loved Neymar to return to Barcelona | Goal
Lionel Messi says he would’ve loved to have seen Neymar return to Barcelona but claims that he isn’t disappointed at the club for failing to secure a move for the Paris Saint-Germain star. The duo spent four seasons together at Camp Nou following the former’s move from Santos, and with Luis Suarez’s arrival a year later the deadly MSN trio was formed, shattering scoring records and helping Barca to a host of trophies.

Sources: Messi a major doubt for UCL opener | ESPN
Lionel Messi is expected to miss Barcelona’s match against Valencia on Saturday and is a major doubt for next week’s Champions League opener at Borussia Dortmund, sources have told ESPN FC. Messi, 32, has not played for Barca since injuring his calf during his first training session of preseason in August. He missed the club’s tour of the United States and hasn’t featured in any of their opening three league games.

Barcelona are protecting Messi | Marca
Barcelona have made it clear; they’re taking no risks with Lionel Messi’s fitness. The Blaugrana captain didn’t train with the rest of the squad on Wednesday morning and this has raised more doubts over whether he’ll be fit to face Valencia on Saturday.

Boateng: Dembele is like a little boy who has been thrown into a giant pool | Marca
Few truly believed the reports last January of Kevin-Prince Boateng joining Barcelona on loan from Sassuolo, however when he reflects back on his time in Catalonia, he believes Ousmane Dembele might be a little out of his depth. You can’t blame Boateng for taking the opportunity, but when he played very little football, it could hardly be surprising when he began to feel unhappy.

Barca top salary cap ranking of cap limit in La Liga | ESPN
Barcelona will be allowed to spend €30 million more than Real Madrid this season as the defending champions of La Liga again have the highest spending limit. La Liga released the salary cap data regarding the 20 teams in Spain’s top flight with the Catalan outfit allowed to spend up to €671m on sports salaries, an increase of €38m with respect to the 2018-19 campaign.

Source: barcablaugranes.com