Latest news with #Barca
Al-Ahram Weekly
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Barca's pre-season tour on ropes after Japan game cancelled - World
Barcelona cancelled their pre-season friendly against Japanese side Vissel Kobe on Wednesday, citing "serious contractual breaches" by the tour promoter and suggested they may have to scrap upcoming fixtures in South Korea. The Catalan giants were set to play their first game in Kobe against the J-League team retired former Barca star Andres Iniesta also played for on Sunday. "Barcelona announces that it has been obliged to suspend its participation in the game scheduled for next Sunday in Japan due to serious contractual breaches on behalf of the promotor," said Barca in a statement. "Nevertheless, the club will consider readjusting the leg of the summer tour in South Korea, where two games are scheduled against FC Seoul (July 31) and Daegu FC (August 4), if certain conditions are met by the promoter. "If these conditions are met, then the club will travel to South Korea in the coming days. Barcelona regrets this incident and the impact it will have on the many, many Barca fans in Japan." The club had planned to face Italian side Como at their revamped Camp Nou stadium on August 10 for its reopening but after failing to obtain the adequate permits were forced to move the game to the Johan Cruyff stadium by their training ground. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Marcus Rashford's Barcelona debut delayed due to 'serious breach of contract'
Barcelona unveiled Marcus Rashford at the Camp Nou on Wednesday but minutes after the Manchester United loanee's press conference had ended, the club announced significant news Barcelona have announced that they've CANCELLED their opening pre-season friendly, delaying the chance for Marcus Rashford to make his debut. Rashford, 27, has joined Barca on a season-long loan from Manchester United. The La Liga champions will have the opportunity to sign him permanently for £26million next summer. For now, Rashford's focus is on breaking into Hansi Flick's starting XI. On Sunday, Barcelona were due to face Japanese side Vissel Kobe in a friendly, their first of the summer. But the match will no longer go ahead after Barca released a statement claiming that there'd been a 'serious breach of contract by the promoter'. It serves as the second blow to Barcelona's pre-season campaign after they forced to suspend their long-awaited return to the Camp Nou. Barca announced earlier this month that their clash with Italian side Como on Sunday, August 10 would mark the first game back at their iconic home after more than two years away, but licensing issues mean that the match can't go ahead even with a limited capacity. The news regarding Sunday's friendly came just minutes after Rashford's press conference at the Camp Nou had ended. A statement read: "FC Barcelona announces that it has been forced to suspend its participation in the match scheduled for next Sunday in Japan due to a serious breach of contract by the promoter. "However, the Club will consider readjusting the South Korean portion of the summer tour, where two matches against FC Seoul (July 31) and Daegu FC (August 4) are scheduled, provided certain conditions are met by the promoter. "If these conditions are met, the Club will travel to South Korea in the coming days. FC Barcelona regrets this incident and the impact on the large community of Barca fans in Japan." Flick's side are currently training in Catalunya, with Rashford having joined his new team-mates for Wednesday's session. The 27-year-old said upon signing for Barca: "The situation with United is that the club is in a period of change and they have been for a while. I don't have anything bad to say about Manchester United. "I think it's been an important part of not only my career but my life. I'm grateful for the opportunity to play for them but football is the same as life and not everything goes as simple as you may have thought. "This is my next step, my next chapter. I'm fully focused on this and trying to improve myself and help the team win trophies. That's where I'm focused right now. "I don't have anything to say about Manchester United, I just wish them all the best. I hope they are successful in the future. I'm focused on here and like I said before, I'm ready to play, I'm ready to experience this club." Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Forbes
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Forbes
FC Barcelona Makes Bombshell Preseason Announcement
Through an official statement released on Wednesday evening, FC Barcelona made a bombshell ... More announcement concerning its upcoming preseason tour of Asia. Getty Images Through an official statement released on Wednesday evening, FC Barcelona made a bombshell announcement concerning its upcoming preseason tour of Asia. 'FC Barcelona announces that it has been forced to suspend its participation in the match scheduled for next Sunday in Japan due to a serious breach of contract by the promoter,' Barca revealed. 'However, the Club will consider rescheduling the part of the summer tour in South Korea, where two matches are scheduled against FC Seoul FC (July 31) and Daegu FC (August 4), provided that certain conditions are met by the promoter. If these are met, the Club will travel to South Korea in the coming days. FC Barcelona regrets this incident and the impact on the large community of Barca fans in Japan,' it added. While some corners might believe that Barca might be worse off by playing one friendly less after almost two months off since sealing a domestic treble back in May, head coach Hansi Flick doesn't share that belief according to SPORT . The Catalan newspaper's anonymous sources say that the German was the one who 'received the news with the greatest joy' and believes that Barca can prepare for the upcoming 2025/2026 season with 'greater order and control' by not heading to Japan. Fresh off of signing Marcus Rashford on a season-long loan, Barca will continue its preparations at the Joan Gamper CT and await further news on whether the Asian tour really will take place. This means that a training session there is planned for Thursday morning, when at 11:00AM Barca was expected to already fly to Kobe and take on the local team Vissel Kobe which club legend Andres Iniesta famously played for after calling time on his European career. As has been explained, though, that first friendly of three that have been planned will now not take place thanks to a promoter dispute. FC Barcelona's preseason campaign has been disrupted Though Flick appears delighted with not having to head to the Far East straight away, FC Barcelona's preseason campaign has been disrupted by this development and the fact that the Joan Gamper Trophy cannot be hosted at the Spotify Camp Nou despite Barca claiming that would be the case.
Metro
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Metro
Marcus Rashford's first words as a Barcelona player as club reveal squad number
Marcus Rashford says he is 'eager to get going' at Barcelona and already feels at 'home' after joining the club on a season-long loan from Manchester United. Barca brought weeks of speculation to an end this evening as it was officially confirmed that Rashford had put pen to paper on a 12-month deal at the Camp Nou. The temporary agreement includes an option for Barca to sign Rashford outright at the end of the 2025/26 campaign for a fee in the region of £30million. Taking over over the No.14 shirt, Rashford becomes only the second Englishman to play for Barca in the past 100 years, following in the footsteps of the great Gary Lineker. Rashford trained for the first time with Hansi Flick's squad earlier on Tuesday and is set to travel with his new team-mates on the club's pre–season tour of Asia on Thursday. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. The England international, a product of United's academy, will hope to pick up where he left off after enjoying an impressive loan spell with Aston Villa last season, in which he racked up four goals and six assists in 17 appearances. 'I'm very excited,' Rashford told Barcelona's media team upon his arrival in Catalonia. 'I think it is a club where dreams come true. They win big prizes and what the club stands for really means a lot to me as well. 'It feels like I'm at home and this is a big factor in my choice to come here. 'For me, it's a family club, people are comfortable here and it's a good place for good players to showcase their skills.' Asked what fans should expect from him over the coming months, Rashford replied: 'I always try to make decisive actions, fast, dynamic plays, and I always like good football. 'I've always been a fan of watching Barcelona play from a young age, like most football fans. 'It's going to be a joy for me to play here and I'm going to enjoy every minute of it.' Rashford is raring to get started in Barca's colours and hopes to be able to add a new dimension to Flick's squad, which finished last season with three pieces of silverware. 'I'm full of excitement and just hunger to go out and try to help this team win,' he added. 'They won so much last year and I can see the ambition of the club is to do better than last year. 'For a player, that's what you want to hear because it keeps you improving year on year and that's what you need to be the best version of yourself. 'I'm eager to get going, get the games playing, but I'm enjoying every minute of it.' Barca head coach Flick held several private conversations with Rashford before a deal was agreed, which proved a 'key factor' in convincing the winger to join. 'He's another key factor and reason I'm here. The conversations that I had with him were very positive,' Rashford explained. 'What he did last year, it was a terrific season. But not just last year, in his career he has proven that he's one of the top coaches. 'To lead such a young team to a very successful season and then to come back to pre-season and want to do more… it showed me everything that I thought I knew about the club. 'Now to be here, it's everything that I wished and thought so I'm, eager to get going and keep learning the Barcelona way as I go.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Gary Lineker makes Marcus Rashford prediction after Man Utd forward joins Barcelona MORE: Jose Mourinho dismisses Chelsea win at Club World Cup MORE: Chelsea drop asking price by £22m for Manchester United to sign Christopher Nkunku
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Marcus Rashford handed iconic Barcelona shirt number after completing Man Utd exit
Marcus Rashford has officially signed for Barcelona on a season-long loan from Manchester United and has been given a prestigious shirt number by the La Liga champions Barcelona have announced that Marcus Rashford has been given the No.14 shirt after joining on loan from Manchester United. Rashford, 27, will spend the 2025-26 season with Barca, who have the option buy him for £26million next summer. The England international will wear 14 on his back while playing under Hansi Flick, aiming to break into a side who won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de Espanda last season. The number was last worn by Pablo Torre, who recently completed a permanent move to Mallorca. Thierry Henry also wore 14 during his time at Barcelona, as did the legendary Johan Cruyff. Rashford has previously compared his style of play to Henry, who was part of Pep Guardiola's famous treble-winning team in 2009. While on holiday in Marbella last month, the United loanee told Spanish YouTube channel XBuyer: "I see myself reflected in Henry. He's comfortable playing on the left and also in the middle. He's a free player. "As I've developed, the number 9 position has become more comfortable, more natural. Things like playing with my back to goal are becoming easier for me. You're always in front of goal and always dangerous." Rashford's move was announced on Wednesday after signing his contract at Barcelona's offices. Shirts with 'Rashford 14' were displayed behind him. Barca said in a statement: "FC Barcelona and Manchester United have reached an agreement for the loan of Marcus Rashford until June 30, 2026. The agreement also includes an option to buy the English striker." United, meanwhile, wished the 27-year-old well as they confirmed his departure. "Everyone at Manchester United wishes Marcus good luck for the season." Will Marcus Rashford be a success at Barcelona? Give us your prediction in the comments section. Rashford made it clear that he was keen to join Barcelona in the aforementioned interview. The forward was asked if he wanted to play alongside Barca wonderkid Lamine Yamal in the future. "Yeah, sure. Everybody in the world wants to play with the best," he replied. "So hopefully, we'll see." Rashford was part of a five-man 'bomb squad' at United after Ruben Amorim made it clear that he, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia were all not part of his plans. The quintet were left out of Amorim's 32-man squad who flew to the USA for their pre-season tour on Tuesday. Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
