Author: Akshat Mehrish

No more UNICEF, no more Qatar Airways, no more Rakuten – and no more Camp Nou. Barcelona have signed a long-term deal with music streaming giants Spotify, providing them with a slot on the home shirt and in front of the current name of their venue. The Spanish giants have synced up with music streaming service Spotify for the long term, in a deal reported to be worth 280 million euros, reports ESPN. The club confirmed what has been anticipated for some time on March 15 through a statement released on their official website. “This partnership will allow us to continue to…

Away from the limelight, Mario Gotze has reignited what once was a waning career. The German international, having found a home at PSV in the Netherlands, is eyeing a return to the top-five leagues in the near future. Despite choosing against moving to the Premier League earlier in his career, the German international hopes to play in the competition in the future, he revealed in a recent interview. Having resurrected his career in the Netherlands, Gorze winner is eyeing a return to one of the top five leagues in Europe while also retaining hope of winning the Champions League. “I’ve…

Canniness in the market has been one of this Barcelona’s prevalent features. On the lookout for free and low-cost deals since the turn of the year, the Blaugrana have reportedly done it again, signing Franck Kessie (AC Milan) and Noussair Mazraoui (Ajax) for nothing. The club is reportedly working to secure a number of free transfers, including Chelsea’s Andreas Christensen, who was a step away from joining the club next summer for no fee. However, the Dane isn’t the only player closing in on a transfer to Barcelona, with Kessie and Mazraoui both set to join the Catalan club for free. …

Vicente Guaita starred for Crystal Palace as the Eagles held reigning Premier League champions Manchester City to a goalless draw at Selhurst Park. The dropped points could allow Liverpool to cut the gap to City at the top down to one. The tone of the game at Selhurst Park on Monday night was set early. Pep Guardiola’s men would hoard the possession, pin Palace inside their half, but a momentary lapse and the Eagles would surge forward to hit the Citizens on the break. That scenario nearly played out inside the first fifteen minutes, when Jean-Philippe Mateta won the ball high up the pitch…

Karim Benzema scored twice inside the final half-hour in Real Madrid’s 3-0 win over relegation-threatened Mallorca. Los Piratas had held Los Blancos at bay during the first half but the floodgates opened when Vinicius Jr scored in the 55th minute. One could be excused for forgetting that Real are presently the favorites to win the La Liga title crown, such was their underwhelming start at a relegation-threatened Mallorca on Monday night. Presented with an early chance, Benzema shot straight at goalkeeper Sergio Rico from a tight angle – but that was as close as Los Blancos got to opening the scoring inside the first…

Paris Saint-Germain’s unceremonious exit at the hands of Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League Round-of-16 threatens to evolve into a full-blown shake-up. Sporting director Leonardo is under review, as PSG eye Tottenham’s Fabio Paratici.  A sense of Deja Vu descended upon the traveling support at the Bernabeu, as their team, Paris Saint Germain, exited the UEFA Champions League at the Round-of-16 stage again. The Parisians were knocked out by thirteen-time cup winners Real Madrid, despite leading 2-0 on aggregate up until the hour-mark, making it yet another season for them without Europe’s top honor. In the aftermath of the…

Ferran Torres scored a brace as Barcelona breezed past Osasuna on Sunday night. Meanwhile, in Italy, Alexis Sanchez’s 93rd-minute goal kept Inter Milan in the hunt for the Serie A title. The spirits in and around Camp Nou are high at the moment. Since Xavi Hernandez’s arrival, Barcelona have turned from mid-table mediocrity to challengers for the top-four spots, which might still feel underwhelming given the recent history of the club but is, nonetheless, a marked improvement on the position they found themselves in just a couple of months ago.  New signings have helped, too, and it was one of…

A late, late goal from Kai Havertz helped Chelsea over the line against Newcastle United in their most recent Premier League fixture. Later, Thomas Partey played a starring role as Arsenal cruised past Leicester City. As has been the case recently, the news cycle surrounding Chelsea was less about Chelsea, the club, themselves, and more about their relationship with Roman Abramovich. Fans could be forgiven for forgetting that the Blues are still in the middle of a Premier League season, fighting for a place in the top-four. Newcastle United’s visit to the Bridge on Sunday afternoon provided them, amid all…

Having been impressed with his performances since joining the club in January, Barcelona are open to offering youngster Riqui Puig to Wolverhampton in a deal to sign Adama Traore permanently. The Spanish giants are also keeping an eye on Raphinha. “Adama has Barca DNA, he’s one of the best forwards in the world, he’s fast. We’d love Adama Traore to stay here, it’s possible — but we’re in a difficult financial situation. We’ll see at the end of the season,” Barcelona president Joan Laporta relayed to the media recently. He hasn’t scored yet, but four assists in six starts across…

A long, protracted transfer saga is nearing its end; a report from Marca claims that Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe will sign his Real Madrid deal next week, officially completing his transfer to the Spanish giants for free. Los Blancos have had continuous links with the Frenchman over the last five years and made an official approach to sign him last summer. The Ligue 1 runners-up didn’t budge on that occasion, despite the risk of losing the youngster for nothing the following summer – which seems to be the inevitable end to the whole saga. The report claims that talks between…