Latest news with #Deco
New York Times
13 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Jules Kounde says he has agreed Barcelona contract renewal until 2030
Jules Kounde has said he has agreed to renew his Barcelona contract through to 2030. The deal would represent a three-year contract extension for the France international, whose current terms at Barca expire in 2027. 'It is all ready for me to renew until 2030 when we return to Barcelona, it has been really quick,' Kounde told reporters on Wednesday, via Cope. 'It is a matter of days now, and I'm very happy.' Advertisement The 26-year-old played at centre-back for previous clubs Bordeaux and Sevilla but has more frequently been deployed at right-back for Barcelona, for whom he has been a regular during his three seasons in Catalonia. Kounde has won five trophies, including two La Liga titles, since joining from Sevilla in 2022. The defender has played 52 times for France, with whom he won the Nations League in 2021 and reached the World Cup final the following year. Kounde's new contract is well-deserved, especially after establishing himself as one of the most reliable right-backs in the world. The new deal also follows a clear instruction sporting director Deco wants to implement across the club: avoid players moving into the final years of their current deals, when the club can lose negotiating power. The new contract arrives at a perfect age for the France international, who turns 27 in November. Given how coveted full-backs are, this is an important move from Barca to tie down one of their most consistent performers. This year, he set a mark of 86 consecutive games being a starter with the club, from November 2023 to April 2025. Kounde played 53 games last season, scoring four goals and delivering eight assists across all competitions, before a hamstring injury sidelined him for a month in May. Hansi Flick did not hesitate to praise Kounde's physical condition: 'I had never had a player like him before,' the manager said in September last season. 'You can tell him to have a rest, but after the games he still wants to train. He says he needs that. It's incredible. A top professional.' Barcelona are securing him for arguably the best years of his career.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
How new Barcelona signing has ‘surprised' the club's coaching staff
New Barcelona signing Roony Bardghji has left the club's coaching staff pleasantly surprised in pre-season training to date. That's according to , who have on Saturday provided an insight into the situation. Youngster Bardghji of course completed his long-awaited move to Catalunya's capital earlier this month. Ahead of the expiration of his prior Copenhagen terms later this year, Deco and co. agreed to fork over a minimal fee to land the highly-regarded winger. Bardghji, in turn, has since gone on to link up with Barcelona's star-studded squad in preparations for the new season at The Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. The 19-year-old was also afforded a call-up for the club's pre-season tour of Asia, ahead of a potential debut appearance against Vissel Kobe on Sunday. And as alluded to above, Bardghji, along the way, has made a thoroughly positive first impression. As per a report from Sport: 'Club sources say his ability to think and act quickly has been one of the surprises of the first training sessions: 'There's still a long way to go and time will tell if it's a success, but for now he's been surprising. The training sessions aren't particularly complex, but it's pleasing because he thinks and acts quickly and that's something unusual for newcomers,' the club says.' Conor Laird – GSFN
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
'In principle…' – Joan Laporta confirms updated Barcelona transfer plans
Barcelona have had a compelling summer so far, with numerous deals having been completed by sporting director Deco. In terms of incomings, Joan Garcia and Marcus Rashford have arrived, while a number of fringe first team players have departed. Barcelona president Joan Laporta, who recently expressed his delight at Rashford's arrival from Manchester United, discussed the club's transfer situation during an interview with MD. He revealed that the main aim was to avoid losing any key players. 'Our main interest and obsession was to keep the team from last season, because it was historic. We wanted to maintain that team spirit with the players we had, which is why many offers that have been received have not even been considered. The coach asked us for more firepower up front. With Marcus Rashford, we have it. And Deco's vision of what could happen with Marc-André has been fundamental to strengthen the goal very well. Joan Garcia is doing some spectacular training sessions and will please Barça.' Image via Alberto Estevez/EFE Laporta also confirmed that the current plan is for no more signings to be made, while reaffirming his desire for no big players to depart before the end of the summer transfer window. 'In principle, there will be no more signings. We have a squad and the coach wants to make additions to the first team dynamic with players from Barça Atlètic, but additions are not expected at the moment. We will try to avoid any painful exit. I'm not going to specify players because they are all Barça players and we are all delighted with them, but there will be certain adjustments, because there are too many players in some positions, replicated, and something will have to be done. This is already at the discretion of the coach and Deco.' Laporta remarks won't go down well with Hansi Flick The fact that no more signings are planned is not good news for Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick, who wants another defender to be added to his squad. But as things stand, he won't get his wish.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Barcelona star agrees long-term contract extension
A leading member of the defensive ranks at La Liga giants Barcelona has agreed to the terms of a new long-term contract. The player in question? Jules Koundé. France international Koundé is for his part of course fresh off a stellar individual campaign in 2024/25. Thriving from his berth at right-back under the watch of new boss Hansi Flick, the former Sevilla man added a new attacking element to his game, en route to an impressive haul of four goals and eight assists in all competitions. And such exploits, evidently, did not go unappreciated behind the scenes in Catalunya's capital. This comes amid confirmation on the part of market insider Fabrizio Romano that, after a fresh round of negotiatons between the parties: 'Jules Koundé has agreed to sign new deal at Barcelona until June 2030, as expected. Agreement in place with the club and green light from Kounde's camp with Barça director Deco on it.' Conor Laird – GSFN
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Marcus Rashford names the Barcelona star he is most excited to play with
Recent Barcelona signing Marcus Rashford has revealed which new teammate he is most excited to share the pitch with in Catalunya's capital. Wide-man Rashford is of course fresh off seeing his long-awaited Barcelona switch confirmed. Following months of rampant speculation, Deco and the Camp Nou brass agreed to the terms of a one-year loan deal with their Manchester United counterparts. Rashford, in turn, was unveiled in front of the media in Catalunya this week. During as much, a whole host of topics were put to the Englishman, several of them surrounding his new teammates in Hansi Flick's squad. One such question saw Rashford drawn on which Barca star he is most looking forward to lining out alongside over the months ahead. And the 27-year-old did not hesitate in pointing towards new attacking partner-in-crime Lamine Yamal. Turning focus back towards the immediate road ahead for Barcelona, both Rashford and Lamine, as expected, were today afforded places in the Blaugrana's travelling squad bound for Asia for the club's upcoming pre-season tour: Conor Laird – GSFN
