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Big money

Bayern Munich have reportedly told Barcelona they would be willing to pay €100 million for Ronald Araujo this summer.

The Bavarian giants keep on being linked with the center-back, even though he has said he is happy at Barcelona and wants to stay.

Marca are now reporting that Bayern have not made an offer but have made a proposal so that Barca “can consider the possibility of selling him.”

Joan Laporta has said his club have already rejected big offers for some of their key players, including Araujo, and insisted once again Barca don’t want to sell their top stars

Of course, Bayern are set for a summer of change, with Thomas Tuchel stepping down and a new manager set to take over.

The Bavarian giants may well be tempted to refresh the squad, particularly as they look destined to miss out on the Bundesliga title to Bayer Leverkusen.

Bayern splashed out £100m on Harry Kane last summer but it seems they could be tempted to invest heavily again in the next transfer window too.

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The Bayern star’s future is uncertain

Joshua Kimmich has been regularly linked with a move to Barcelona but it seems like a move to Catalunya is not on the horizon any time soon.

Diario Sport are reporting that Barcelona have told Kimmich it will be “impossible” for them to try and sign him this summer as Bayern will ask for around 60 million euros.

However, the club are willing to make a push in 2025 if Kimmich is willing to hang around in Munich and see out his contract with the Bavarian giants.

The report reckons Barcelona are not ruling out the possibility of Kimmich one day making the switch but he will have to be patient.

Kimmich is not expected to renew his deal with Bayern, as things stand, and so could be available on a free transfer next year.

The Germany star has spoken about his future recently and insisted he’s not made up his mind yet what he plans to do.

“For me the situation is very clear. I have over a year left on my contract, so I’m relaxed about it,” he said.

“At the moment it is still unclear who will be our new coach from the summer. It is of course very interesting and important to know who it will be.

“My first priority now is to make this season as positive as possible, in the Bundesliga and in the Champions League. Then comes the Euro. Those are the things that matter.”

If Kimmich doesn’t renew then Bayern may be eager to sell to avoid missing out on a transfer fee. Barca may not be willing to join the bidding this summer, but there’s likely to be plenty of teams who will.

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A good night by the Barcelona youngster

Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal caught the eye yet again with a superb display in Tuesday’s 3-3 friendly draw for Spain over Brazil at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The teenager was named in the starting XI by manager Luis de la Fuente, winning his sixth cap for his country in the Spanish capital.

Yamal went on to win a penalty for the opening goal of the game. Barcelona’s wonderkid did brilliantly down the right flank, turning Brazilian defenders inside out before being brought down by Joao Gomes.

Rodri converted the spot-kick to hand Spain the lead in the 12th minute, before the hosts doubled their advantage 10 minutes before half-time. Yamal was involved again, playing in Dani Olmo who did briliantly inside the penalty area before firing past goalkeeper Bento.

Real Madrid’s Rodrygo pulled one back for Brazil just before half-time before Endrick scored his second international goal in two games five minutes into the second half.

Yamal continued to threaten in the second half with De la Fuente unwilling to give the youngster a rest. It proved a good decision as Yamal was decisive in the closing minutes, producing a brilliant pass with the outside of his boot for Dani Carvajal to win a penalty.

Up stepped Rodri to smash home his second penalty of the night and make it 3-2 with just minutes remaining.

The goal looked like being the winner, but Brazil hit back deep into stoppage time to snatch a draw after Yamal had departed the Bernabeu to a huge ovation.

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The Polish international will have a role to play in the Champions League and the Euros in the months to come

Robert Lewandowski is back on top in Europe for club and country.

Barcelona is on to the quarterfinals in the Champions League, and Poland is on to the European Championship this summer after taking down Wales on penalties.

The Polish superstar was the player of the month in La Liga in February, and he hasn’t slowed down since. He’s still three goals behind Jude Bellingham in the Pichichi race, but when you add in his eight assists, it could be argued that Bob is the most effective player in Spain this season.

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But of course, this is the best center forward of his generation that we’re talking about.

Expectations were always high when he arrived at Barcelona two years ago. Lewandowski may be in the twilight of his career, but he was brought in to lead the Blaugrana back to glory.

One things’s for sure, as Lewandowski goes, so goes Barcelona.

When he’s in a slump, Barca is too.

When he gets hot, everyone around him is cooking too.

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According to the man himself, the root cause of the turnaround for the player and the team has been the increase in quality and intensity in training. Xavi has added that nothing has changed in training except for the fact that they have more time together due to a kinder schedule in recent weeks and months. And with the increase in practice time comes the ability to train harder.

And maybe that’s the simple truth.

Rest does go a long way. Both physically, as well as giving the team a much-needed mental reset after a very challenging, and dispiriting, start to the new year.

Tactically, Barcelona hasn’t changed in the last few months.

There has been a bit of a rotating cast of characters for Lewandowski to play off, making it even more impressive that his performances have been so consistent.

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Regardless of the lineup, however, we have seen a more consistent display of energy. Both high up the pitch, with more balls being won by the forward and midfield lines, and from the backline.

In order for a center forward to get more of the balls in the areas where he needs it, you need for the team to be clicking on both sides of the ball in every third of the field.

The result has been Lewandowski getting better looks, and showing that he still has a killer’s eye for goal.

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So where do Barcelona and Lewandowski go from here?

His contract runs through 2026, and the club will need to decide whether he has a future at the new Camp Nou.

A lot of that will depend on what he can contribute down the stretch of this season. If his form continues, and he shows he can connect well with his Barca teammates, especially the young ones, who’s to say he can’t lead the team into a new campaign? It would be interesting to see him truly start to compete with Vitor Roque, who could also learn a lot from his tutelage.

It will also depend on whether Xavi comes back, the man who brought him in, and who has, for the most part, stuck with him through thick and thin.

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A new manager may have different plans.

Regardless, there is time for the 35-year-old to prove that there is still magic in his boots.

He’s already led Barcelona to a La Liga title, and topped the league in goals for 2023.

This season, he’s once again the best player statistically in the country when you combine goals and assists. And he’ll be determined to take Barca to the semifinals and beyond in the Champions League.

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For now, Robert Lewandowski is back, and Barcelona is too.

No one knows better than “The Body” himself that success is the result of hard work, never luck.

If Lewy sees the evidence in training, maybe it’s a sign that the team is going places.

And that the Polish superstar is just getting started.

And the Spanish international wants to play for Barça

As Barcelona prepare for a transformational summer that will likely bring in a new manager along with the promise of a big squad overhaul to help the club’s finances, one of the club’s priorities is to add a young, high-quality left winger to the group.

Their dream is Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, but their economic issues make that dream unrealistic unless a couple of big sales or another “financial lever” is activated this summer. But according to a new report from Diario SPORT, the Catalans have not yet given up on the Spanish international and are looking to find a formula that will make that signing possible.

The 21-year-old recently signed a new contract with Athletic but also included a €50 million release clause to facilitate a future exit, which could come very soon. That affordable clause has teams like Arsenal and Chelsea very interested, but SPORT’s report claims Nico dreams of playing for Barça and, even though he’s happy at San Mamés, he would welcome a move to Camp Nou if the opportunity presents itself.

Barça are looking to make a big sale this summer and the likes of Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo and Raphinha have been constantly linked with leaving Barça on a big money move. If that happens there will be some major space created in the salary cap that would make a move for Nico Williams possible, and the young man appears interested in recreating his national team partnership with Lamine Yamal at club level as well.

The striker seems to have a knock

Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski was spotted limping after helping Poland book their spot at Euro 2024 on Tuesday by beating Wales in a penalty shoot-out.

Lewandowski scored his penalty but was seen limping after the game as the team went back to their hotel, according to reporter Dominik Wardzichowski.

“Robert Lewandowski finished the match against Wales with an injury. After returning to the hotel, he was limping, but nothing serious seemed to have happened. The captain was the only one who found a moment for the fans after returning from the stadium,” he reported.

It’s thought the striker has a thigh issue as he was seen clutching the area during the match and also had an ice pack applied at the start of extra-time.

It doesn’t seem to be a serious issue but it’s entirely possible Lewandowski could be rested at the weekend against Las Palmas in La Liga.

The striker played the entirety of both Poland’s games over the international break, and Barca won’t want to take any risks with his fitness as they approach some crucial games next month in La Liga and the Champions League.