European Leagues

Barca agree renewal with Xavi Hernandez until 2026

Xavi Is ‘Hurt, Surprised’ By €80m Barcelona Player’s Statements

Without question, FC Barcelona have seen an inclining trend over the last few seasons in terms of their development as a team and an improvement in their overall structure. A major contributor to this progression has been their new head coach who just happens to also be a former club legend.

Xavi Hernandez took over the Catalan club as their head coach in November of 2021, making it almost two years now that he has been leading FC Barcelona under his mentorship. The manager initially signed a contract that would stay in place until June of 2024, which is less than a year away.

As a result, Barcelona have been looking to settle a renewal agreement with the 43-year-old manager and it seems that progression has undoubtedly been made. The faith showcased by club president Joan Laporta in his side’s head coach has been an undeniably important factor in this reported finalization.

According to Spanish outlet SPORT, FC Barcelona and Xavi Hernandez have reached a complete agreement for his extension, one that will now see him remain head coach of the Catalan outfit until 2026. The contract negotiations were previously reported to be scheduled to take place in September following the conclusion of the summer transfer window.

Other sources, such as Mari Carmen Torres of MARCA, have also acknowledged this and stated that an agreement for a renewal has been reached between all concerned parties.

One of the major negotiating prospects was that of an improved package from a financial perspective. Emerging reports claim that this has been addressed and Barcelona have now agreed to those improved wages for both the manager and his staff.

As of right now, it remains to be seen when this deal ends up being presented officially and how soon other reliable sources begin to chime in as well. For now, the Catalan coach and his squad take a break from club football due to the international break and are set to return against Real Betis on the 16th of September at the Montjuic stadium.

Premier League

Premier League confirms “significant progress” in testing semi-automated VAR offside technology

The Premier League has announced that “significant progress” has been made in the testing of semi-automated VAR offside technology in recent weeks.

Despite initial plans to implement the system earlier in the season, its deployment was delayed due to readiness concerns. Clubs had unanimously voted to adopt the technology nearly a year ago, aiming to reduce offside check times by an average of 31 seconds.

Tony Scholes, the Premier League’s chief football officer, provided an update on Tuesday, saying, “We are still testing it but we are making significant progress.”

Scholes added, “We’re in a different place to when I spoke to managers just over Christmas; we’ve made a lot of progress in this area. Now I’m hopeful that at some point this season we will be able to introduce semi-automated technology, but I repeat the points I’ve made a number of times. We are not going to introduce it if we’ve got any doubts at all with regards to its operation.”

The system was initially expected to be rolled out “after one of the Autumn international breaks,” but updates on its progress had been scarce, raising doubts about its arrival this season.

Scholes emphasized the importance of ensuring the technology operates flawlessly before its official introduction.

Premier League

Tottenham defender Dragusin sidelined for the season with ACL injury

Tottenham Hotspur defender Radu Dragusin is set to miss the remainder of the season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in his right knee during the club’s Europa League clash against Elfsborg.

The 23-year-old will undergo surgery and is expected to be out for at least six months, with recovery timelines for ACL injuries sometimes extending up to a year.

In a statement, Tottenham confirmed that Dragusin “will be assessed by our medical team to determine when he can return to training.”

Having started 21 of Tottenham’s past 23 matches, Dragusin has been a vital part of the defense since his arrival from Genoa in January 2024 for £25 million.

The Romania international expressed determination to bounce back stronger, writing on Instagram:

“Football doesn’t just teach you how to win – it teaches you how to fight when things get tough.”

Dragusin joins a growing list of sidelined Tottenham players, including Destiny Udogie, Guglielmo Vicario, James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, and Cristian Romero.

To bolster their defensive options, Spurs recently signed Austrian defender Kevin Danso on loan with a £21 million purchase option. Additionally, the club’s £70 million bid for England defender Marc Guehi was rejected by Crystal Palace, though they secured 19-year-old attacker Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich.

Premier League

Arteta disappointed by Arsenal’s lack of winter signings

Nobody Works Harder Than Me - Arteta On Woeful Arsenal Display

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has expressed disappointment over the club’s failure to strengthen their squad during the winter transfer window but commended the management’s disciplined approach to player recruitment.

The Gunners were linked with potential attacking reinforcements following Gabriel Jesus’ season-ending ACL injury and the continued absence of Bukayo Saka due to a hamstring issue. However, no deals materialized before the window closed.

Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s EFL Cup semi-final second leg against Newcastle on Wednesday, Arteta stated:

“We had a clear intention which is always when a window opens to explore the opportunities to improve our squad with players that can make an impact.

“With players injured, we’ve been impacted and we haven’t achieved it. We are disappointed in that sense but as well we are very aware that we only want to bring certain kinds of players and we have to be very disciplined with that as well. I think that we were.”

Despite the challenges, Arteta emphasized the importance of staying true to Arsenal’s recruitment philosophy.

“It’s in the profile, a player that we believe can make us much better. Financially there is a lot of ways, a lot of things that we must stay in the lane that has taken us this far and from there try to improve.”

Arsenal face a difficult task in Wednesday’s semi-final after a 2-0 defeat in the first leg against Newcastle.