Barcelona were dealt their first defeat under Xavi Hernandez by Real Betis on Saturday. The Catalans fell 1-0 to Manuel Pellegrini's men and are currently seventh in the La Liga table, 13 points behind league leaders Real Madrid. Barcelona are also preparing ahead of the January transfer window.
Without further ado, let's take a look at the top stories involving Barcelona from 5 December 2021.
Riqui Puig says he feels like a footballer again
After playing 54 minutes for Barcelona against Real Betis, Barcelona midfielder Riqui Puig told the press that he feels like a footballer at the club once again. Puig had become a peripheral figure at the club under former manager Ronald Koeman but he has now been given a fresh lease of life by Xavi.
After making his second appearance for Barcelona under Xavi, Puig said (via Diario Sport)
“Footballers want to play, I am having minutes, I am happy. I feel like a footballer again, let’s see if the results accompany us, we can fight for the league and on Wednesday in the Champions League to qualify.
“In the second half we had very clear chances to score. There is a bad taste in our mouths, but we have to keep playing and working hard. The goal will end up coming, but today we were unlucky.
“We have three days to recover and go with everything to Munich to win. It is a final, we all believe, and we are together.”
Barcelona register an interest in Lyon's Rayan Cherki
As per El Nacional, Barcelona are keeping tabs on Olympique Lyon attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki. The 18-year-old has garnered attention from an array of top European clubs and the Catalans will make a move for him in a future transfer window.
Lyon reportedly value him at €20 million. Cherki rose through the ranks at the club before breaking onto the professional circuit in the 2019-20 season. In 56 appearances for the Ligue 1 outfit across all competitions, Cherki has scored nine goals and provided eight assists.
Cherki is being viewed by Barcelona as a potential replacement for Ousmane Dembele, who is set to run down his contract with the club and leave next summer.
Barcelona open talks for Erling Haaland
El Nacional claim that Barcelona have now emerged as the favorites to sign Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland. The Norwegian international is also a primary target for Barcelona's arch-rivals Real Madrid.
As per the report, the Catalans are negotiating with Haaland's agent Mino Raiola over a potential deal. The 21-year-old is the most sought after striker in the world and has been one of the most prolific goalscorers on the planet over the past couple of seasons.
He has already scored 15 goals and provided four assists in just 12 appearances across all competitions this term. Barcelona have become the favorites to sign Haaland as the player reportedly prefers a move to the Camp Nou. He will be the main man there and will have the luxury of having the project built around him.
Due to their financial woes, the Catalans have reportedly asked Mino Raiola to reduce his agent fee and the signing on fee on the promise that they'll make up for it in the future.
However, Barcelona need to qualify for the UEFA Champions League as a lack of top tier European football could prove to be a dealbreaker.
yizbotuy
0
get it done...stop lengthy deals bfr issues happen...adeyemi is going there meaning haaland is on the move...get deal done in a week...evn if it means money plus coutinho
VB21
0
good decision and a step in a right direction halaand.consider where your services are in a dying need of.if you believe that you really have what it takes to lift the ballon de"or.as a potential striker, just focus on a club with a crop of talented and young mid fielder's who have everything that it takes to advocate your project.and I assure you that the next number one contender to the balloon d 'or ll be you.its your father who must know best to advice you.
barca can have haaland and they still would not win anything, because Xavi will be worst than koeman wait and see then they would go off crying saying xavi cannot coach and blame everything on their coach when the team is just overall shitt
Kaubklyz
2
barcelona have not played Europa before and we will not go there
rizveerj
1
Halland..... are you serious man
ceoadlmstz
5
We don’t have if 🤧
slgeek
0
Depay was the best player at Olympique Lyonnais. Do you see how he perform at Barcelona? No player is required from that dead league.
nubakmryz
0
if care is not taking Xavi will be worst than Koeman
anonymouss
1
joke of the year
zupcioy
0
good decision and a step in a right direction halaand.consider where your services are in a dying need of.if you believe that you really have what it takes to lift the ballon de"or.as a potential striker, just focus on a club with a crop of talented and young mid fielder's who have everything that it takes to advocate your project.and I assure you that the next number one contender to the balloon d 'or ll be you.its your father who must know best to advice you.
with which team, this average team. u are wicked, very wicked even with ur Lord messi and Suarez PSG n Bayern humiliated Barcelona, now u want only hakaand to come,u are heartless
YoungMakito10
0
Official: Barcelona signed @autty as a striker & the deal will be completed soon🤣
@ Autty first game 15.8/10 ratings 😂😂😂
Paybdeklpt
2
nice news haaland on the way to camp nou. I love u haaland 🤍
YoungMakito10
6
it will be nice if Barcelona gets him so that Madrid can always beat the best version of Barcelona 😂😂😂
rezruz
0
Barca are just Haaland, Mbappe and van Dijk, and 500mln away from new greatness 😂😢
waykmsy
1
good decision and a step in a right direction halaand.consider where your services are in a dying need of.if you believe that you really have what it takes to lift the ballon de"or.as a potential striker, just focus on a club with a crop of talented and young mid fielder's who have everything that it takes to advocate your project.and I assure you that the next number one contender to the balloon d 'or ll be you.its your father who must know best to advice you.
Maverick00
0
haaland is coming to real madrid he won't play for Europa league team
mukeirz
0
Official: Barcelona signed @autty as a striker & the deal will be completed soon🤣
Rehaman
6
Official: Barcelona signed @autty as a striker & the deal will be completed soon🤣
ironide
3
very funny