HAS BARCELONA'S CRISIS PUT MESSI AND SUÁREZ IN THE SHOP WINDOW?

We're only eight days into 2015 and there is already talk of a massive crisis at FC Barcelona. Despite only trailing La Liga leaders Real Madrid by a point, circumstances at the club has caused panic amongst their fans.

D. Ray Morton, 8th January 2015.

Barcelona Director of Football, Andoni Zubizarreta, was given his marching orders this week as the Catalan club go through a period of uncertainty and turmoil

 

Barcelona look like a right mess at the moment. Ignore that they are still within touching distance of their rivals Real Madrid in La Liga and ignore that they topped their Champions League group because there is something much more worrying afoot. The last week has been full of speculation. Director of Football Andoni Zubizarreta has been sacked and Carles Puyol, Assistant Director of Football, has left the club. Zubizarreta has been made a scapegoat for what has been seen as unsatisfactory dealings in the transfer market in his time at Camp Nou. With the Court of Arbitration in Sport (CAS) slapping a two-window transfer ban on the club for the illegal signing of foreign under-age players, last summer was seen as a key period for Barça to strengthen for the coming year of transfer wilderness.

They secured a massive €85m deal for Liverpool's Luis Suárez who has underwhelmed so far in Lionel Messi's shadow. Alexis Sánchez left the club and is now excelling at Arsenal. Cesc Fàbregas also departed and is having a great season at Chelsea. Defenders Jérémy Mathieu and Thomas Vermaelen came in for around €20m each. Vermaelen has not kicked a ball for the club and Mathieu is performing just as expected for an over-priced 30 year-old. Right-back Douglas came from Brazil and is not looking anything like a Barcelona-standard player. Ivan Rakitic has shown some positives but many wonder whether he will blossom into a truly world-class midfielder. Claudio Bravo has done well in goal, one of the few positives and Alen Halilovic, at 18, will not be ready for the first team for another couple of years. The massive outlay came to about €190m with Bravo and Rakitic being the only two mild positives from that bunch of signings.

Out with Zubi but will it be out with new manager Luis Enrique too? There are some serious murmurings that he has fallen out with star man Leo Messi. He left him on the bench for their recent shock defeat to David Moyes' Real Sociedad and some believe that Messi is simply fed up at Barcelona now. Former assistant manager Henk Ten Cate thinks that Messi would have already left the club had he not promised at the deathbed of Tito Vilanova that he would stay. Chelsea are sniffing about and may find a way to meet his €250m release clause. Former team-mate Fàbregas is doing his best to lure the Argentine to London.

Could Chelsea manager José Mourinho end up managing Lionel Messi at Stamford Bridge? What was once unthinkable now seems more possible than ever

It is not unthinkable that Suárez, too, could be off. The club shelled out a huge amount of money for the Uruguayan and he has only served in a supporting role for the team. Having to play in a front three with Messi and Neymar, he is far less important than he was at Liverpool and the club might consider cutting their losses should they be able to attract a satisfactory bid. Red Liverpudlians might shudder at the thought of Manchester United showing interest with Radamel Falcao facing an uphill battle to secure a permanent move there.

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu understands the turmoil at the club and has brought forward the club presidential election to this coming summer rather than waiting until 2016. Former president Joan Laporta intends to run again and has an audacious plan to bring back former manager Pep Guardiola in the vacant Director of Football role should he leave Bayern Munich and decide to leave management for an upstairs role. Such a move would certainly inspire Barça fans who are struggling to identify with the club who have gone from being the clean-cut heroes of "tiki-taka" to being a club that cannot avoid scandal whether it be Neymar's shady transfer, Messi's tax evasion case, the CAS transfer ban and the all-round sense of instability at Camp Nou. Do they run the risk of slipping down that crevasse and becoming a European "sleeping giant" like say, AC Milan? Time will tell and the coming weeks should be very interesting. Tonight, Barcelona play Elche in the Copa del Rey. Do not expect Messi to start, though this hardly means much playing against such meagre opposition at home. Keep an eye on Luis Enrique however, a man very much under pressure.

CHURCH OF MOYESOLOGY HITS FOREIGN SHORES

Former Manchester United manager David Moyes has been appointed as the new boss at Real Sociedad. After a disastrous spell at Old Trafford, the Scot attempts to rebuild his career away from the glaring spotlight of the British media. 

D. Ray Morton, 11th November 2014.

David Moyes embarks on a Spanish quest, taking over as manager of Real Sociedad in an attempt to fix what is a damaged reputation

A solemn man, holy and true. So holy and true in fact that he attends both Catholic and Protestant religious services divvying his parents' belief systems being a good lad, not attempting to offend anyone. This is how one could look at his troubled ten months as Manchester United manager. Out of his depth and trying to appease a ravenous fanbase and a complacent dressing room, Moyes often came across as a timid and confused figure when microphones were planted in front of his face, one disappointing result after another.

Now he is off to Spain in an attempt to reassemble what was a promising career until it was smashed violently all over the floor like a toppled vase. He had mentioned that more British managers should go abroad. Before Roberto Di Matteo took the reins at Schalke, he was heavily linked to that job. Instead, he finds himself at Real Sociedad pipping Pepe Mel to the role as the Basque club narrowed down their shortlist in the past week.

This rebuilding process will be likened to the career moves of Steve McClaren, another flopped British manager who took to continental Europe in order to avoid the ridicule of the domestic media. McClaren went to Wolfsburg first, it should be remembered, where he did not do very well. It was not until he reached FC Twente in the Netherlands that the healing began. Moyes hopes Sociedad will be his Twente. The only thing is, McClaren's adventures in Germany and Holland were relatively obscured by the fact that those leagues are not very well followed in Britain. The profile of the German game has increased with the form in recent years of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League but Spain's Liga BBVA is probably the most closely watched league for Britons outside of their own.

Sky Sports will, no doubt, take a keen interest in his progress and the talk will not subside. Their Liga coverage is concise, the discussion more educated than their Premier League equivalent. Analysis will be cast on Moyes' playing style, the level of his spoken Spanish and the results of course. Sociedad lie perilously close to the relegation zone in 15th place with only nine points in eleven games. What will the Scot bring to turn the club's fortunes around?

Real Sociedad have some talented players, like Mexican international Carlos Vela, and Moyes will be challenged with getting the best out of them
 

Sociedad have dabbled with British managers in the past. Two Welshmen as it happens. Chris Coleman failed to impress there most recently and John Toshack has managed the club on three separate occasions having been something of a "go-to guy" for the side. Perhaps Moyes will take comfort and solace from the fact that this road has been relatively well travelled from a British perspective. Louis van Gaal's struggles at the club that jilted him must also strengthen his resolve. That will not deflect the spotlight, however, and eyes will be on Moyes to prove that he is not the one-club wonder people think that he is post-Everton.

ADMIRE RONALDO MASTERY BUT IGNORE TALK OF COMPLETENESS

Former Spain international Marcelino is the latest to heap praise on the magnificent Portuguese by calling him "the most complete player in the history of football". Amazing as Ronaldo is, this praise does not offer a true reflection of what he brings to the ballpark.

D. Ray Morton, 6th October 2014.

Cristiano Ronaldo made the amazing seem routine again last night with yet another Liga trifecta, this time against Basque side Athletic

Cristiano Ronaldo was on fire again last night as Real Madrid thrashed Athletic Bilbao 5-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu with their main man netting another hat-trick to make it a remarkable 13 goals in 6 Liga appearances this season so far. Former Newcastle United and Spain centre-half, Marcelino, was the latest to heap admiration on CR7 stating that he is the most complete player in the history of football.

Ronaldo is indeed incredible. As an attacking force, there are few things he does not do perfectly. His athleticism is unquestionable and he has one of the strongest mentalities in the modern game in terms of always seeking perfection and bettering himself. There is, however, a pitfall when you refer to Ronaldo as being "complete" and it actually takes away from realising what he does best.

There is an old tale about Ronaldo's time at Manchester United. Showing off his latest trick to the lads in training, a wily Paul Scholes watched on in amusement. Ronaldo had, perhaps, just demonstrated a flashy step-over or an incredible juggling act to Scholes and co. and the old, red-headed midfield conductor decided to teach the young pup a lesson. Spotting a set of long distance targets at least forty yards away, Scholes proceeded to plant three lofted passes precisely onto each. Ronaldo's jaw dropped in amazement as it was something he could not replicate and probably still could not to this day.

Paul Scholes, a former teammate of Ronaldo's, could dictate the midfield tempo and pick a pass the way the Portuguese can not
 

This is no criticism of Ronaldo as his position on the pitch these days usually does not require such an attribute but it does indicate that there are players who can do things he simply does not and can not do. This is the beauty of football. If you are to argue that a player is complete, should that not mean he can play in every outfield position on the pitch à la ex-Barcelona (now manager) and Spain's Luis Enrique? Should it mean that they have every attribute a footballer needs at an on-average higher level than everyone else? And yes, that does include tackling.

Ronaldo, more accurately, could be described as the most complete attacking player of all-time though there are those who might argue that legendary Dutchman Marco van Basten or Brazil's Ronaldo, El Fenómino, deserve that recognition. There are attackers with better positioning than CR7 and there are definitely players with much higher work-rate, aggression and the ability to sacrifice themselves for their team-mates. A player like Luis Suárez, who joined Liga rivals Barcelona this season, demonstrates that level of ruthless doggishness which Cristiano does not. Can he weave through those tiny spaces like Lionel Messi? Does Ronaldo have the characteristics, for example, to really improve the players around him in the Portuguese national team? Recent World Cup evidence suggests not so much though his overloaded schedule last season is worth considering when making that judgement.

So let us drop these silly remarks about who is the most complete in the history of football because the point does not make a whole lot of sense. Admire this incredible player for what he brings and do not dwell on the idea of "completeness" because as fallible humans, no-one is complete.

REAL MADRID IMPRESSIVE IN SUPER CUP VICTORY

The defending European champions were commanding in their UEFA Super Cup triumph against Sevilla in Cardiff last night with most of their big names impressing and sending out a message to all their rivals for the coming season.

D. Ray Morton, 13th August 2014.

Another two goals but a new medal for Cristiano Ronaldo to collect as he had never won the UEFA Super Cup before last night

Real Madrid sank Sevilla by two goals to nil in UEFA's bonus competition yesterday evening thanks to a routine brace from their star Cristiano Ronaldo despite fears that the Portuguese may not have been at 100% after a World Cup summer and a niggling knee injury. The FIFA Balon d'Or winner appeared to be in fine form though not yet at his very peak. He combined well with Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema in the BBC (Bale, Benzema, Cristiano) front three retained from last season. Bale's assist for the first goal was a thing a of beauty. A deep, swirling cross that got away from Sevilla's goalkeeper Beto and fell neatly onto the boot of Ronaldo after an explosive run from deep. Ronaldo may have been on the score-sheet but Bale's speed and all-round energy was the stand-out talking point, the Welshman looking fresh having not been at the World Cup.

James Rodríguez also made his competitive début last night. The €80m Colombian had a relatively quiet game in all honesty and did not set the Cardiff City stadium alight. He found himself forced out wide on occasions and did not function in the 4-2-3-1 shape Ancelotti had gone with. Last season, Real usually went with a 4-3-3 without a number 10 involved. Karim Benzema, who was the spearhead of the attack, looked busy but Real could easily open their chequebook again this summer, sign the likes of Monaco's Falcao and become a genuinely unstoppable force.

The deeper midfield two of Luka Modric and other newcomer Toni Kroos worked very well. It will take a while for the pair to understand each other but had an easy night pinging the ball between each other against a side that did not have a midfield capable of competing. Modric and Kroos prefer to be on the ball and Ancelotti has options within his squad when he needs his team to play with a bit more defensive-minded grit. Although they will enter the Champions League as favourites, this is still not possession-hogging machine like Guardiola's Barcelona which defended by not having to defend but by suffocating the opposition in not letting them have the ball.

Toni Kroos with an impressive début and could be the player to take this Madrid midfield to an even higher level


Iker Casillas and the back four of Daniel Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Pepe and Fábio Coentrão remain as the potential weakness but apart from some bouts of indiscipline, it is hardly a back-line to be sniffed at. The unused squad is also brimming with talent although some of the players' futures are up in the air at the moment. The club are still looking to sell Ángel di María in order to recoup some funds to cover their other signings. Only at Real could such a great player, arguably their man of the match in the Champions League final, be offloaded just to balance the books. Keylor Navas, one of the new signings and Costa Rican World Cup hero, may eventually take Casillas' place between the sticks and then there is Raphaël Varane who can develop to be a better player than Ramos or Pepe. Xabi Alonso and Isco will stick around though they are not expected to start many games and then there is Sami Khedira whose future has not been decided. His contract is out at the end of the season but he may yet stick around and leave on a Bosman. José Mourinho at Chelsea is an admirer and is rumoured to have advised the German international against a move to cross-city rivals Arsenal.

Many things to ponder but what a luxury of resources Los Blancos have going into 2014/15. La Liga rivals Barcelona and Atlético Madrid will know that they will have to be at their very best in order to make any attempt at a title challenge against such a multimillion Euro powerhouse. Barça are hardly being frugal themselves but must still look on with awe at Real's potential best XI. Teams with hopes of Champions League glory must also stare upwards at the Bernabéu club, their wealth of riches and individual talents unmatched anywhere in world football right now.

HAVE BARCELONA SIGNED A COD IN JÉRÉMY MATHIEU?

Last week, Barcelona confirmed the signature of Valencia's 30 year-old left-back Jérémy Mathieu for the whopping fee of €20m. Now the Frenchman admits he smokes cigarettes when he wants to. What on earth have the Blaugrana got themselves in for?

D. Ray Morton, 2nd August 2014.

You could be forgiven for thinking that this is just another British tourist checking out Camp Nou on their summer break. Alas, he is Barcelona's latest signing: Jérémy Mathieu

Whatever it is about Barcelona, they just do not seem to buy decent defenders. One has to think a good few years back to find one, Daniel Alves perhaps? But he was practically a right-wing back slotted into the right-back position. Éric Abidal would be the next guess and Barça's latest signing has been dubbed as his natural heir in some circles. Whose circles they are does not seem to matter to the majority of Blaugrana fans because the general consensus is that they have just spent €20m on a crock past his sell-by date. Let me introduce you to Jérémy Mathieu.

"I do not smoke much but I do smoke when I want" said the Frenchman who has spent the last five seasons at Valencia. Not the time to be getting existential when the knives are already out without having kicked a single football. Barcelona's "fitness freak" manager and triathlon competitor, Luis Enrique cannot be too impressed with these kinds of statements which raises the question of who actually sanctioned this deal. A massive price-tag for a player entering the final phase of his career. Not exactly a world beater either. He has been France's third or fourth-choice left-back for years now.

The entire deal is sketchy. Mathieu has been signed as a centre-back to give competition to Javier Mascherano and Gerard Piqué with the Alex Song midfielder-to-defender conversion project having been abandoned. Jordi Alba should not have to worry about losing his place at left-back. It needs to be pointed out that Mathieu is not a natural centre-back, however, and has actually only filled in in that role in the last season due to his height. Éric Abidal actually preferred to play in the centre but was so comfortable on the left that he made the position his own.

The World Cup should have proven to Barcelona that they really needed to sign a real centre-back, either an old-fashioned stopper or ball-playing defender who could complement their attacks. Mascherano, in the World Cup, proved that he is a superior defensive midfielder to Sergio Busquets and should play that role again at club level. That is where signing a centre-back would come in but Barça may have blown it by opting for Mathieu. Does anyone remember Dmytro Chygrynskiy? They wasted €25m on him in 2009, barely played him and promptly offloaded him due to his frightening lack of pace. Well, Mathieu does not exactly gobble up the yards either and could stand out like a real sore thumb.

It would be a pleasant surprise to be proven wrong but, right now, this looks like a sure-fire candidate for being one of the worst signings of the summer. The Luis Suárez deal already had a peculiar taste to it considering it meant ditching Alexis Sánchez and having to pay a fortune but this latest signing could be the equivalent of throwing fresh banknotes into the paper shredder.

BARCELONA vs REAL MADRID 2014/2015 SEASON LINE-UPS

Find the starting line-ups for Real Madrid and Barcelona for the 2014/2015 season here. With a host of new star signings on both teams, it will be fascinating to see the two giants of Spanish football competing in this season's La Liga. 

Visualise how the teams look in this Soccer Stash video guide to El Clásico 2014/15

                                           

REAL MADRID

Goalkeeper: Diego Lopez

Date of Birth: 3 November 1981

Nationality: Spanish

Total Club Appearances: 341

Goals: 0

Right Back: Daniel Carvajal

Date of Birth: 11 January 1992

Nationality: Spanish

Total Club Appearances:  149

Goals: 6

Left Back: Marcelo

Date of Birth: 12 May 1988

Nationality: Brazilian

Total Club Appearances: 297

Goals: 25

Center Back: Pepe

Date of Birth: 26 February 1983

Nationality: Brazilian

Total Club Appearances: 402

Goals: 21

Center Back: Sergio Ramos

Date of Birth: 30 March 1986

Nationality: Spannish

Total Club Appearances: 452

Goals: 51

Center Midfield: Toni Kroos

Date of Birth 4 January 1990

Nationality: German

Total Club Appearances: 270

Goals: 40

Center Midfield: Luka Modric

Date of Birth: 9 September 1985

Nationality: German

Total Club Appearances: 431

Goals: 68

Center Midfield: James Rodríguez

Date of Birth: 12 July 1991

Nationality: Columbian

Total Club Appearances: 223

Goals: 61

Midfielder/Forward: Gareth Bale

Date of Birth: 16 July 1989

Nationality: Welsh

Total Club Appearances: 292

Goals: 82

Midfielder/Forward: Ronaldo

Date of Birth: 5 February 1985

Nationality: Portuguese

Total Club Appearances: 569

Goals: 375

Forward: Karim Benzema

Date of Birth: 19 December 1987

Nationality: French

Total Club Appearances: 403

Goals: 192

Surprise exclusion from starting 11? Xabi Alonso

BARCELONA

Goalkeeper: Claudio Bravo
Date of Birth: 13 April 1983
Nationality: Chilean
Total Club Appearances: 370
Goals: 1

Right Back: Dani Alves
Date of Birth: 6 May 1983
Nationality: Brazilian
Total Club Appearances: 568
Goals: 38

Left Back: Jordi Alba
Date if Birth: 21 March 1989
Nationality: Spanish
Total Club Appearances: 216
Goals: 14

Center Back: Javier Mascherano
Date of Birth: 8 June 1984
Nationality: Argentinian
Total Club Appearances: 402
Goals: 3

Center Back: Gerard Piqué
Date of Birth: 2 February 1987
Nationality: Spanish
Total Club Appearances: 317
Goals: 25

Center Midfield: Ivan Rakitic
Date of Birth: 10 March 1988
Nationality: Croatian
Total Club Appearances: 328
Goals: 61

Center Midfielder: Sergio Busquets
Date of Birth: 16 July 1988
Nationality: Spanish
Total Club Appearances: 316
Goals: 12

Center Midfielder: Andrés Iniesta
Date of Birth: 11 May 1984
Nationality: Spanish
Total Club Appearances: 561
Goals: 55

Forward: Neymar
Date of Birth: 5 February 1992
Nationality: Brazilian
Total Club Appearances: 266
Goals: 151

Forward: Luis Suárez
Date of Birth: 24 January 1987
Nationality: Uruguayan
Total Club Appearances: 363
Goals: 220

Forward: Messi
Date of Birth: 24 June 1987
Nationality: Argentinian
Total Club Appearances: 457
Goals: 365

Surprise exclusion from starting 11? Jérémy Mathieu.

SUÁREZ TO BARCELONA REPRESENTS A STRANGE PIECE OF BUSINESS

D. Ray Morton, 11th July 2014.

Will this be club football's dream strike force next season?

Next Wednesday, Barcelona will confirm the signing of Liverpool's controversial Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez. The fee is expected to be near the figure of €94m making Suárez one of the most expensive players of all-time. Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Real Madrid hit similar numbers though Gareth Bale's move to the same club is thought be somewhere between €91-100m.

Meanwhile, Barcelona have offloaded Chilean attacker Alexis Sánchez to Arsenal for only €38m meaning that there is a €56m gap in value between he and Suárez. With Suárez two years older than the Chilean, canny followers of the transfer market may raise an eyebrow or two in surprise. Is the tempermental Suárez really that much better? Though the Uruguayan has demonstrated great scoring prowess over the past few seasons at Liverpool, at twenty-seven, Suárez is at his peak whilst Sánchez can only get better. Sánchez also comes out of the World Cup with an improved reputation having put in some great performances for Chile. Though Suárez starred against England, his bite at Giorgio Chiellini ended his tournament in disgrace.

Arsenal jumped at the opportunity to sign Alexis Sánchez with Barcelona eager to sell to free up funds for the Suárez deal
 

Liverpool will obviously need a replacement. Recent reports have linked them with Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, a move which may or may not happen depending on whether the Madrid club want to go after Monaco's Colombian pair, Radamel Falcao and James Rodríguez. Alternate options are the precocious talent that is Belgian teenager Divock Origi or Benfica's Serbian attacker Lazar Markovic.

Looking at the Suárez deal, it represents a considerable risk for Barcelona. He will have to serve his ban which stretches well into the beginning of the season without even the opportunity to train with his new team-mates. With Neymar out injured with a significant back injury, Barça will have to start the season with only one of their first-choice attackers, Lionel Messi, who will be coming off the back of an entire World Cup's worth of matches. Should the Catalan club start the season sluggishly, there will be higher expectations of Suárez once he becomes available.

The potential front three of Neymar-Messi-Suárez looks great on paper and represents something of a South American dream attack force. Will they click? Messi will want to remain in his central false 9 role and Neymar prefers to play on the left but is the right side of a front three the best position for Suárez to occupy? At Liverpool, he would often play centrally or on the left but it was Raheem Sterling who usually played on the right when the Merseysiders played with a front three. It seems strange to spend so much on a player if he is to be played slightly out of position. Suárez is highly adaptable and will not kick up a fuss but it represents something of a conundrum for new manager Luis Enrique. The outgoing Sánchez's preferred role was that right winger slot that Suárez will be fitted in to.

With this enormous outlay, Barcelona have gone back to challenging Real Madrid directly with their wallet. Expectations are massive and finishing the season without a major title, either La Liga or the Champions League, will represent a failure considering the investment they have made. Suárez is on a five-year deal and the Catalans should expect to win many trophies in that time provided he lives up to the hype. A fascinating season ahead but whether Suárez is the upgrade to make Barcelona the greatest again is up for question.

ANOTHER CESC SAGA ALBEIT DIFFERENT

D. Ray Morton, 6th June 2014.

Though not a horror signing, it has not been all smiles and sunshine for Fàbregas at Barcelona

Cesc Fàbregas has been the subject of a number of transfer sagas over the past few seasons. In the summer of 2011, Barcelona finally pried him away from Arsenal for £35m plus add-ons amounting to amother £5m. Last summer, speculation mounted that Manchester United were hot on his trail as he only managed to register two steady seasons with Barça, failing to take Camp Nou by storm. After another decent but unspectacular campaign, speculation is mounting about his future again.

The dynamic is slightly different this time, however. Fàbregas has been seen as something of a flop. His addition to Barcelona's squad unsettled the Busquets-Xavi-Iniesta midfield axis and his presence hastened Thiago Alcântara's departure from the club, moving to Bayern Munich in search of more first-team opportunities. Fielding Cesc became more of a problem than a solution. Do you fit him in instead of Xavi or Andrés Iniesta or do you play him in Lionel Messi's false 9 role? Whichever position he was put in, it never seemed as natural as it did at Arsenal.

Spending £40m on an ex-youth player also created an awkward dynamic. It was a vast fortune to spend on a player that the club did away with in the past only to take him back like a prodigal son. Such lavish spending happens at Barça but not for their La Masia contingent. Blending expensive signings with in-house talent has been the club's way, not spending a king's ransom on once homegrown fledglings. One could point to Chelsea's expensive re-signing of Nemanja Matic as a good example of this kind of deal but Roman Abramovich's team are known for their vast consumption and do not have a philosophy or a fanbase that they have to answer to like that of the Catalan clubs'.

New manager Luis Enrique deems Fàbregas surplus to requirements and wants to generate money through sales in order to secure his own transfer targets. I wrote on the interest in Sevilla's Ivan Rakitic lately and recent reports do suggest he is very close to signing for Barcelona, snubbing both Atlético and Real Madrid in the process. They will want to add a defender, another midfielder and an attacker to that therefore Cesc has become a target for Manchester clubs City and United, Chelsea and maybe even old club Arsenal. There seems to be an odd reluctance amongst these clubs to make a move materialise, however, and only Chelsea's José Mourinho has publicly stated he is monitoring the situation despite Fàbregas' possible reluctance to work with a former Real Madrid manager who managed to rub quite a few Catalans the wrong way during his time at the club.

Wherever he ends up, Fàbregas is still a player with plenty left to offer. He must be used in his best role, however, and that is in an advanced midfield role with protective players behind him and a recognised striker ahead of him, not as a deeper lying metronome or as false 9. He does not have the pace to lead the line and does not have the positional discipline to play too deep but he is a fine attacking playmaker. He needs a good World Cup to give his career another kick-start and some fine performances in Brazil could ignite some more aggressive bids for his services.

IVAN RAKITIC IS RED HOT PROPERTY

D. Ray Morton, 2nd June 2014.

Ivan Rakitic was the star of Sevilla's Europa League triumph and was named player of the competition

Sevilla's Ivan Rakitic may be one of European football's hottest properties right now. Having guided his side to Europa League glory, the Croatian international is on the radar of several major clubs in need of a creative midfield presence. Rakitic offers the characteristics of a classic Balkan playmaker in spades. His playing style has been compared to legendary schemers like Zvonimir Boban and Dragan Stojkovic. According to his father, Luka, the top three Spanish clubs of Atlético Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid are hot on his trail and hinted that Barça may be his preferred choice should an offer materialise.

His buyout clause comes to about €40m though it is believed that his contract features a reduction of that price were an offer made by a "big club" which could mean reducing his cost to about €25m. With Cesc Fabregas being put up for sale and Xavi now 34 years old, Barcelona will be looking for quality to add to their midfield options. Atlético's Koke may be their number one choice but the Croat would be a fine alternative. Rakitic has a good head on his shoulders, genuinely loves the game and would fit into Barça's possession-based, communal philosophy. This is a guy who owns a minor Swiss club, NK Pajde (Croatian for "Buddies"), as a hobby such is his passion for football.

Many eyes will be on his exploits at this month's World Cup. His Croatian midfield link-up with Luka Modric should keep Brazil on their toes in the tournament's opening game on June 12th. He brings a lot to the table tactically. He can play anywhere across the midfield, in the hole or even as a second striker. He is deadly from long range, retains the ball very well and is highly technical. Last season, in 41 starts, he scored 13 goals and made 12 assists at club level between league and European appearances. At 26 years of age, he is just coming into his prime and, given the right push, can be one of the Europe's best playmakers in the years to come.

Premier League clubs will cast glances at him but there does not seem to be a realistic deal to be made there. Chelsea are already stacked full of attacking midfielders and a manager that distrusts players without defensive priorities as mentioned here in yesterday's article in regards to Eden Hazard. Though Rakitic is versatile and adaptable, he is not exactly a player that excels in the nitty-gritty side of things. Very much an artist as opposed to a destroyer. Manchester City can offer riches but this alone would not interest Rakitic one would think. The allure of a Barcelona or a Real Madrid cannot be matched by Sheik Mansour's wheelbarrows full of cash.

BIG MONEY COULD ULTIMATELY CRUSH ATLÉTICO'S DREAMS

BIG MONEY COULD ULTIMATELY CRUSH ATLÉTICO'S DREAMS

D. Ray Morton, 10th March 2014.

After five games, four draws and finally a win, Atlético Madrid have toppled Barcelona on Europe's grandest stage with last night's 1-0 second leg win at the Vicente Calderón. Manager Diego Simeone has performed miracles with limited resources and a domestic duopoly to contend with. They now join three elite European superpowers in the semi-finals: their local rivals and nine-time winners Real Madrid, the holders Bayern Munich and 2012's winners Chelsea. Atlético are set to battle amongst the giants no doubt.

They shouldn't fear any of the three sides on strictly footballing terms, that is but for Chelsea partly for what I outlined here yesterday, though they will take the rest of the competition in their stride knowing that getting to this stage is an adventure far beyond what they could have imagined at the start of the season. There is, however, the grim reality of what their refreshing football makes us forget, and that is money.

Should Atlético be put with Chelsea in tomorrow's draw, they will be hit with an immediate disadvantage. On-loan Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will not be selected should the rojiblancos have to face his parent club. Not that they are contractually forbidden, but because they, according to club president Enrique Cerezo, would have to pay the London club an additional €8m for his services if he were to feature in that specific fixture. Such a loss could be catastrophic considering Courtois' brilliance this season which has left many rating him as one of the finest keepers on the planet.

Courtois' brilliance would be sorely missed were they to face Chelsea

Atlético are cash-strapped. The club are thought to be several hundred million Euro in debt and cannot afford to shell out any payments beyond their extremely limited financial structure. They are not in the position to reject lucrative transfer offers, as evidenced by Radamel Falcao's big money departure to Monaco last summer. This team and its successes so far have not been bought. They have been willed on by Simeone's sheer motivational drive, man management skills and sound tactical knowledge. Not many managers could have set up a side to stifle Lionel Messi in the manner he was last night.

Indeed, Diego Simeone could be one of the most sought after managers in the world come next summer. What he has managed on such a limited budget is simply remarkable and although the Argentine has stated in the past that he would only like to manage teams he has played for, big money offers would surely roll in. There would be temptation in taking over a club with massive resources, a team capable of challenging in Europe season after season without having to deal with loan sharks.

 Simeone's impressive managerial skills will be in high demand next summer

It's not only Simeone who could leave as well. Midfielder Koke has come on in leaps and bounds this season and has attracted the interest of several big clubs capable of vastly increasing his salary. Manchester United are one name that have been repeatedly mentioned. Striker and talisman Diego Costa will almost certainly end up in the Premier League after the World Cup. The core of the team could be completely dismantled with Atlético trying to chip away at their massive debts by having to sell to any prospective buyers with big wallets.

It's sad in a way that Atlético and Simeone aren't in a position to really grow together and see this project blossom the way it would for a more fiscally secure team. Their following in Spain is formidable, probably the country's third most supported club, especially with the demise of Valencia. That was the same Valencia that made it to two Champions League finals before having to sell their stars as the debts racked up. Atlético's coffers are similarly empty. Enjoy this year's vintage because the likelihood is, unfortunately, that it won't be repeated.

HOW BARCELONA'S TRANSFER BAN WILL HURT THEM

HOW BARCELONA'S TRANSFER BAN WILL HURT THEM

D. Ray Morton, 2nd April 2014.

Barcelona were slapped with a two window transfer ban by FIFA today due to discrepancies in their signings of non-Spanish players under the age of 18. This follows the controversy of the Neymar deal which is still due for investigation. Barça's "goodie two shoes" mask has slipped off and now the club run the risk of losing their clean-cut, international appeal. What's more, this latest transfer ban prevents the club's planned summer spending splurge where serious investment was needed to strengthen a squad with many weaknesses.

Deals had been negotiated for two players. Dinamo Zagreb's Alen Halilović and Borussia Mönchengladbach's Marc-André ter Stegen were due to join although it's now unknown whether the ban allows them to recruit these young stars. Halilović would only have featured in the under-19s or "B" team initially such as his young age but ter Stegen was expected to replace Victor Valdés as their No. 1 goalkeeper.

Barça will have to beg Valdés to stay on now and perhaps it works in their favour that he recently picked up a serious knee injury that will have him miss out on the World Cup and perhaps make him reconsider finding a new club. His reasons for leaving are not believed to be financial but should the club allow him to recuperate fully and offer him a new and fair contract, there's a very good chance he could now stay.

 Can Bartra step up to the plate?

One player who won't be staying is Carles Puyol and this is where the transfer ban will hurt the Catalans most. They've needed a new centre-back for several seasons now but the ban means they'll have to settle for substandard players already within the club. They had been expected to make a move for Chelsea's David Luiz for this position. They have Marc Bartra who is showing some promise but is still not ready to play at the highest level. Options beyond that are worrying and might mean having to retain Alex Song as a centre half option, something which has been a disaster so far.

In attacking positions, los culés should actually be fine. They have Lionel Messi, Neymar, Alexis Sánchez and Pedro to call upon and provided none leave, those options are more than sufficient. Midfield could be a worry, however. Xavi is pushing on in age and although Cesc Fabregas, Andrés Iniesta and Sergi Busquets offer quality, a few injuries could have Barça forcing to promote Rafinha Alcantara (currently on loan at Celta Vigo) or the likes of Denis Suárez of the "B" team. Two good young players but not as good as spending €30m+ on an Arturo Vidal or a Miralem Pjanić.

The talented Rafinha, Thiago Alcantara's younger brother, is still on Barcelona's books.

Finding a goalkeeper and centre back are the potential nightmare scenarios but otherwise, this may not mean all doom and gloom. Staying out of two transfer windows will obviously allow revenue to build up and it forces Barça to be creative and promote from within, something which they have prided themselves upon in recent years. Chelsea were threatened with the same consequences in 2007 over their deal to sign Gael Kakuta and that was successfully overturned so the Catalan club can draw positives from that. Ultimately, however, the main thing Barcelona need now is a good long run of avoiding controversy off the pitch. Messi's tax evasion allegations, the dodgy Neymar deal and now this within the space of a few months is a heavy burden on a club that had already suffered due to Eric Abidal and Tito Vilanova's struggles against cancer. Controversy has been rearing its ugly head and that's the last thing they need right now. Take your medicine and get on with it.

REAL MADRID LOSE AT SEVILLA WHILST BARCELONA LOSE VALDÉS

REAL MADRID LOSE AT SEVILLA WHILST BARCELONA LOSE VALDÉS

D. Ray Morton, 27th March 2014.

Last night marked a crucial turning point in the race for the Liga BBVA crown with title hopefuls Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid and Barcelona all in action. Atléti and Barça played at home against Granada and Celta Vigo respectively and both secured three points each as Real fell to a 2-1 away defeat to Sevilla. The Sevilla fixture always looked like it might be a spanner in the works for Carlo Ancelotti's men. Despite taking an early lead through Cristiano Ronaldo, Sevilla got the visitors on the back foot and managed two goals from Carlos Bacca to send the side from the capital packing. Three crucial points dropped and confusion all-round.

Atlético struggled against Granada but managed to win ugly thanks to another goal from their profilic Brazilian-born striker Diego Costa. Barcelona picked up a routine win against Celta Vigo at Camp Nou but their 3-0 rout had the gloss taken off it when goalkeeper Victor Valdés was stretchered off in the first half with a serious knee injury brought about whilst saving a free kick. It is thought to be a cruciate knee ligament injury which will keep him out for at least six months meaning that last night, as he will leave the club in the summer, was his last ever match for Barça. Set to miss the World Cup also, it has been the cruelest of injuries for a keeper that has found his very best form this season. José Manuel Pinto came on to deputise for Valdés but one wonders whether the 38 year-old back-up goalie will be good enough to get los culés past tougher challenges as the season reaches its climax. A brace from Neymar and another from Lionel Messi ensured the Catalans at least got the three points to keep their title charge going.

Each of the three challenging teams have their concerns. Atléti managed to win last night but the struggle in which they dispatched Granada might indicate that Diego Simeone's side are burning out. Barça lost Valdés which could be a huge psychological blow and Real simply bottled it against Sevilla in a game that prospective league champions ought to win.

Atléti have a one-point lead over Barça and have to play them at Camp Nou on the final day of match fixtures. Should both teams finish on level points, it will come down to head-to-head record. When both sides faced each other in Madrid in November, it finished 0-0. Real have left themselves in a bad situation in that they now have to finish a clear point ahead of the other two in order to clinch the title. Atléti and Barça have superior head-to-head records against Real.

Bookmakers are giving Barcelona the edge and still give Real Madrid a better chance than Atlético despite their loss last night. The clubs' run-in fixtures are as follows:

Atlético Madrid: vs. Atheltic Bilbao (away), Villarreal (home), Getafe (away), Elche (home), Valencia (away), Levante (away), Malaga (home), Barcelona (away).

Barcelona: vs. Espanyol (away), Real Betis (home), Granada (away), Athletic Bilbao (home), Villarreal (away), Getafe (home), Elche (away), Atlético Madrid (home).

Real Madrid: vs. Rayo Vallecano (home), Real Sociedad (away), Almeria (home), Valladolid (away), Osasuna (home), Valencia (home), Celta Vigo (away), Espanyol (home).

Barcelona's run-in looks like the easiest of the three but the way this title race has jumped back and forth, there can be no guarantees. Valdés' injury is a huge loss but Real Madrid may already have blown it with their most recent brace of defeats. Let's not count out Atlético. Despite showing signs of fatigue, they still lead the table and very much have everything in their own hands. It's as simple as win every game and you've won the league.

BARÇA EDGE SENSATIONAL CLÁSICO

BARÇA EDGE SENSATIONAL CLÁSICO

D. Ray Morton, 24th March 2014.

Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 4-3 at the Santiago Bernabéu last night in a remarkable match that keeps the Liga BBVA title race running with only one point separating the top three teams. Atlético Madrid did their part earlier on in the evening by dispatching Real Betis with a 2-0 away win thanks to goals from Gabi and Diego Costa. That set the stage for a mouth-watering clásico with Barcelona desperately needing a win to keep their title challenge going. Depending on how you see it, it was either the game of the season or a game of tactical warfare involving several incidents where both sides did their best to deceive the referee, Alberto Undiano.

Barcelona opted to field the same team that brushed aside Manchester City in the Champions League with Xavi, Andrés Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas all starting as Neymar got the nod ahead of Alexis Sanchez and Pedro.

The idea was to dominate possession, as the Catalans did, by fielding as many of their creative midfield talents as possible rather than the speedy wingers which could be used as impact substitutions later on in the match. Real Madrid also fielded a very strong eleven with Xabi Alonso, Luka Modric and Angel Di Maria playing as Carlo Ancelotti's midfield three behind the dynamic front trio of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema.

Many tipped Real to dominate proceedings before kick-off pointing to their impressive record of 15 wins, 3 draws and no defeats in the league since losing to Barca at Camp Nou early on in the season. The Catalans were keeping shtum about a record of their own, however, and that was Lionel Messi having outscored and outperformed Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo so far in 2014.

The first half was a cracker. Neymar and Benzema exchanged early efforts with Ronaldo attempting to buy a penalty kick from Dani Alves several minutes later. Iniesta drew first blood in the 7th minute finishing beautifully with his left foot after being played in with an incisive Messi through ball to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Neymar, Messi and Benzema had several chances for their respective teams but it was the work of Madrid's Di Maria that really caught the eye. Despite collapsing in an unnerving manner after creating Benzema's headed equaliser to make it 1-1, the Argentine winger was everywhere and tormented los culés down the left flank. He continuously took advantage of the space left by Alves and was a real nuisance to deal with. He assisted a second for Benzema within four minutes, the French striker with a neat nods 'n' vols style finish to give the home side a 2-1 lead.

The first half refused to relent as Real continued to storm forward hoping to extend their lead and put the game beyond doubt. Di Maria continued to run his socks off and if Benzema's finishing had been more consistent throughout, they may well have put daylight between them and their rival visitors. They didn't take their opportunities and were punished just before half-time when Messi pounced upon Real's hesitance in the penalty area and fired home a neat, bottom corner finish to undo what should have been a very good first half for Real. 2-2 HT and Di Maria having the game of his life.

Messi's first half strike meant that he had overtaken Alfredo Di Stéfano's 18 clásico goals but it was Real who struck next thanks to some poor officiating. In the 55th minute, Ronaldo was fouled by Alves outside the box when referee Undianco believed the contact had happened inside. The Portuguese stepped up to the spot and fired his side ahead with ease to give Real a 3-2 lead as things looked ominous in the title race.

Barcelona refused to die however and they fought back ten minutes later. Messi played another superb through-ball into the path of Neymar's sprint as Sergio Ramos came in with the clumsiest of challenges to earn his 19th career red card and a penalty for the Catalans. Messi copied Ronaldo's effort down the other end. 3-3.

With Real reduced to ten men, the complection of the game changed vastly. Real were no longer as much of a threat on the counter attack and Barca, already dominant in possession, now suffocated Ancelotti's side by continuously moving the ball left to right and exhausting the men in white shirts. Pedro replaced Neymar and Alves hit the post and eventually, Tata Martino's side won their second penalty of the game as Alonso bundled into Iniesta as he tussled with Daniel Carvajal inside the area. Messi made no mistake. 4-3 to Barcelona and what a climax to the game.

So 4-3 to Barcelona and the title race has been blown wide open. The Madrid sides are a point above them but Atlético must visit Camp Nou on the final day and Real must hope to maintain that one point lead over Barca as their head-to-head record is now inferior should they finish on level points. It should be a fantastic run-in no matter how you look at it. Each of the last nine remaining league matches are vital and any dropped points could spell disaster for each of the three teams.

Player Ratings:

Real Madrid:

López 6.5; Carvajal 6.0, Pepe 6.5, Ramos 5.0, Marcelo 6.0; Xabi Alonso 6.0, Modric 6.5, Di Maria 9.0; Ronaldo 6.5, Benzema 8.0, Bale 6.5. Subs: Varane 6.0, Isco -.

Barcelona:

Valdes 7.0; Dani Alves 6.5, Pique 6.0, Mascherano 6.5, Jordi Alba 6.0; Busquets 6.5, Xavi 7.0, Iniesta 8.5; Fabregas 7.0, Messi* 9.5, Neymar 7.5 Subs: Pedro 6.5, Alexis -.

* = man of the match