FC Barcelona returned to work, and the available players from the first team trained on Tuesday evening on the Tito Vilanova pitch, with one eye on the League match this Thursday against UD Las Palmas. The session was the first of the week after having a rest day on Monday. Paco Alcácer didn’t participate.
Ernesto Valverde’s men have another session on Wednesday afternoon before the team travel to Las Palmas later in the evening. They will face Paco Jémez’s side on Thursday. More here.
Why is Valverde refusing to rest Pique? | The Barcelona Podcast
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Antoine Griezmann and the fantastic five | Sport
Antoine Griezmann will be the fifth. The French striker will sign for Barcelona next summer at 27, at his footballing peak. “Le petit diable” (the little devil) as he is known in his country, will be part of the ‘Fantastic Five’ at Barcelona, along with Messi, Suárez, Coutinho and Dembélé.
The Frenchman is a great opportunity on the market – with a clause of 100 million euros – and both short to medium term value. With this signing, the club will not only complete their top attack, but get someone who can replace Suarez, who is 31 years old, looking to the future. More here.
Puyol: Pique’s reaction in the derby was subdued considering what was said to him | Marca
A friend and former teammate at Barcelona, Carles Puyol has come out in defence of Gerard Pique, who was criticised for his gesture of silencing the public during the last derby against Espanyol.
“It isn’t easy to support what Gerard supports,” Puyol said to the press at the Laureus Awards in Monaco. “People scrutinise everything he says, but nothing happens with what others say to him. He and his family have been insulted and I think his reaction was still subdued.” More here.
Barcelona monitoring Toby Alderweireld as Tottenham contract talks stall | The Independent
Barcelona are monitoring Toby Alderweireld’s situation at Tottenham Hotspur, with a view to a serious bid in the summer. The Belgian centre-half’s contract runs out in 2020 but has a clause that will allow him to leave for £25m in summer 2019 if no new deal is agreed.
The ongoing inability to strike a deal has piqued Barcelona’s interest, and they are willing to make an offer in the summer if no new contract is agreed. More here.
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