According to Mundo Deportivo, Flick also called up Mamadou Mbacke from Barça Atletic to take part in training ahead of the match against Elche. Due to the absence of Andreas Christensen and the condition of Pau Cubarsi, who did not train with the group earlier in the week, Flick decided to include the 22-year-old Mbacke in preparations. The Senegalese centre-back started the season with an injury and missed a few matches before returning and starting three games in a row.
Following their 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid, FC Barcelona will be itching to bounce back strongly when they take on Elche tomorrow at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys. Already five points behind Xabi Alonso's men, the Blaugrana could find themselves trailing by eight, given that the current league leaders play relegation-battling Valencia later tonight. So, it goes without saying that after a forgetful month of October, Hansi Flick & co. cannot afford any more slip-ups and must get things back on track immediately.
Barcelona's scouting department continues to cast a wide net across South America, and their latest target is a young Brazilian talent already turning heads in his homeland. According to a report from SPORT, the Catalan giants are keeping a very close eye on Sao Paulo's emerging gem, Gustavo Zabarelli, a player born in 2009 who has been lighting up Brazil's youth scene. At just 16 years old, Zabarelli has already earned a reputation as one of the brightest prospects in Sao Paulo's academy.
As already reported, FC Barcelona are currently working towards playing a friendly match in Peru on December 22 - a game that could generate between €7 and €8 million in revenue for the club. However, the logistical puzzle to go ahead with the match is proving to be a challenge for the Blaugrana. Barcelona in touch with La Liga, AFE over Peru friendly As such, Mundo Deportivo reports that Barcelona have asked La Liga to play in Villarreal on December 20 and are in talks with the Spanish Footballers' Association (AFE) regarding players' holiday schedules.
La Masia prospect Xavi Espart has become a regular in FC Barcelona's first-team training sessions in recent weeks. The 18-year-old versatile youngster, who can play at right-back and in midfield, was a key part of the Juvenil A setup that won the treble last season. Espart has carried forward that form to the Barça Atletic setup this season, becoming a key player under Juliano Belletti's tutelage.
FC Barcelona will enter the transfer market for a new centre-forward in the summer of 2026, as Robert Lewandowski's contract expires at the end of the season. As things stand, there are no plans to offer a renewal to the 37-year-old forward and rope in a replacement, with several names being considered as possible targets. Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland remain the dream options, but are considered out of reach given the club's financial situation.
Very. Because of how quickly it all happened and because I had renewed my contract in the spring... When I renewed, I had already been talking about this renewal for a long time. But at the beginning of the year, I started to notice feelings that I hadn't noticed before. It's a well-thought-out decision, made with a lot of conviction.
After dealing with seven absences in the first El Clasico of the season last week, FC Barcelona manager Hansi Flick can finally breathe a little ahead of their next La Liga match against Elche this Sunday at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys. Indeed, there is positive news with regard to the progress of three players as the Blaugrana carry out preparations for the weekend league clash. Lewandowski to return
Ronald Araujo's last start for FC Barcelona came against Sevilla before the international break - a match in which the team collapsed defensively and lost 4-1. The Uruguayan was substituted at half-time by Hansi Flick, who brought on Eric Garcia in his place. Since then, the Barça captain began the next three matches on the bench: against Girona, Olympiacos, and Real Madrid. In all these games, Flick opted for the central defensive pairing of Pau Cubarsi and Eric Garcia.
The departure of Inigo Martinez has hurt FC Barcelona more than they might have anticipated in the ongoing season. The veteran centre-back was not only a leader on the pitch, but also the ideal fit to execute Hansi Flick's high-line tactics and offside trap - something that the club have struggled with of late, while he was also the only left-footed central defender in the squad.
Barcelona's situation in the Negreira scandal has taken yet another steep turn, and the club seems to be stuck in a never-ending circle of accusations for making payments to the former vice president of the Technical Committee of Referees, Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira. As relayed by AS in a recent report, the judge investigating the case has now cited the club as a witness for the proceedings and summoned the representatives of the club and the former president of the club, Joan Gaspart.
FC Barcelona, Spotify, and global music star Ed Sheeran have launched a retro-inspired jersey for fans, now available for purchase online ahead of Sunday's Clásico against Real Madrid. The kit draws on Barça's 2004-05 home shirt, featuring the traditional blue and claret stripes with subtle pink details reflecting Sheeran's new album, Play. The jersey includes a textured Play logo on the fabric and the club crest on the chest.
In a rather concerning development, Carlos Monfort of SPORT reports that Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is not training with the rest of the team three days before the first El Clasico of the season. The Blaugrana take on Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday in a top-of-the-table encounter. As it is, they will be without important players such as Joan Garcia, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski, and Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
"FC Barcelona and Uber have signed a strategic agreement, making the transport platform a new Official Partner of the Club until 2027," the statement read. The agreement was presented earlier today at an event held at the club facilities, attended by first-team defender Pau Cubarsi, Barcelona's general director Manel del Rio, and Uber CEO for Spain and Portugal, Felipe Fernandez Aramburu.
Once Eric Garcia finalizes his extension, Deco is said to plan to open talks with Torres about a new deal that would keep him at the club well beyond his current 2027 contract. The 25-year-old forward has become a key piece for Hansi Flick, leading the line during Robert Lewandowski's injury absence, until Torres himself was injured. The potential renewal signals a clear intent from Barcelona to continue building with players already in the system.
Now, according to SPORT, Pini Zahavi is arriving in the city this Monday. The Israeli super-agent will be present in the Montjuic VIP box on Tuesday to watch the match against Olympiacos and is scheduled to meet with Barcelona president Joan Laporta. The two have long-standing business and personal ties, and the situation of Robert Lewandowski, whose contract expires in June this year, will be on the table.
Barcelona are gearing up for exciting things ahead, as the club revealed key sponsorship contracts that will come into effect from the new season. The most exciting sponsorship will come in the form of Midea, which was announced as the club's new sponsor earlier this year. Barcelona revealed key details of their new sponsorship agreement with Midea during the club's Ordinary General Assembly, confirming what is set to be the largest deal of its kind in the club's history.
