Spain

If Your Child Wants To Be Like Messi, Tell Them Kevin-Prince Boateng Works Too

Every child dreams of becoming the next Lionel Messi, and I don’t think that should be discouraged. However, it might not be a bad bit of parenting to tell your children that it’s OK to aim for the next Maxwell, Alexander Hleb, Aleix Vidal, Thomas Vermaelen, Paulinho or Kevin-Prince Boateng as well — that’s probably the surest way of representing the Blaugrana as a professional.

These are the somewhat old, somewhat weird transfer dealings of the five-time European champions, and in a strange way, they make perfect sense.

Ousmane Dembélé Produces 70 Minutes Of Otherworldly Football As Messi’s Replacement

With Lionel Messi given a rest and role as a substitute for Barcelona’s match against Leganes on Sunday, Ousmane Dembélé moved into the Argentine’s customary position on the right-hand side of Barca’s front three and spent the opening 45 minutes making the Camp Nou forget all about the man they were missing.

Dembélé opening run of the match led Leganes on a merry dance. He nutmegged one defender and then was millimeters away from dicing another. 

18-Year-Old Mexican Phenom Diego Lainez Makes LaLiga Debut With Real Betis

18-year-old Mexican phenom Diego Lainez made his debut with Real Betis on Sunday following his transfer from Club América. Lainez entered the fray in the 81st minute with Betis and Girona knotted at 2-2 at the Estadio Benito Villamarín in LaLiga play.

Lainez’s introduction made him the third-youngest Mexican debutant in Europe, and his positive play on both wings during the brief cameo certainly isn’t going to slow the hype surrounding him.  

Lionel Messi Quote

I prefer to win titles with the team ahead of individual awards or scoring more goals than anyone else. I'm more worried about being a good person than being the best football player in the world. When all this is over, what are you left with? When I retire, I hope I am remembered for being a decent guy.

This Is Why Bilbao Put A $125 Million Release Clause On Inaki Williams

After flirting with relegation last season before ultimately finishing 16th, Athletic Bilbao again finds itself near the bottom of the LaLiga table and struggling to avoid a fate that’s never befallen the Basque club (a distinction it shares with only Real Madrid and Barcelona in Spanish football). 

Luka Modric’s First Goal Of The Season Was A Banger

Luka Modric isn’t known for his goalscoring prowess. The most he’s ever registered in a LaLiga season for Real Madrid was three, back during the 2012-13 campaign. However, after scoring the opening goal in the FIFA Club World Cup final back on Dec. 22 — his first competitive goal since the banger he scored against Argentina back in June — Modric admitted that he should probably opt to go for goal more often.

“Everyone tells me I have to shoot more, although I usually prefer to pass. I should shoot more, it’s true,” he said following the 4-1 victory over Al-Ain.

Lionel Messi Makes History With 400th LaLiga Goal

Barcelona maintained its five-point lead at the top of LaLiga with a comfortable 3-0 win over Eibar at the Camp Nou on Sunday. Luis Suarez opened the scoring for the hosts after a wonderful interchange with Philippe Coutinho, and then Suarez turned provider for Barca’s second, finished by Lionel Messi — his 400th league goal for the club.

Barca’s third was Suarez’s second of the game after a quick Sergi Roberto throw-in found Eibar’s defense asleep. 

18-Year-Old Mexico International Diego Lainez Joins Andrés Guardado At Real Betis

The Diego Lainez transfer is complete. And he’s headed to Spain.

The exciting 18-year-old winger made the move from Club América to Real Betis on Thursday. The LaLiga club will pay América a reported $16 million for Lainez’s services.

After Cutting His Loan Short, Could Michy Batshuayi Be The Answer For Chelsea?

Valencia has confirmed that forward Michy Batshuayi will end his loan early, sending him back to London at the end of the month, which could prove crucial for the Blues’ title run this season.

While serving his first loan in Borussia Dortmund during the second half of 2017-18, the Belgian scored seven goals in just 10 Bundesliga games. He was then shipped to Spain to play for Valencia last August, but he could not find the same magic.

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