Philippe Coutinho

Barring any last-minute changes, Lisbon will host a behind-closed-doors Champions League mini-tournament in August, with dates and locations close to being finalised ahead of an announcement next week.

Frankfurt, Madrid and Moscow had been in the running to host the remaining games, after the competition was put on hold and the final (initially scheduled for 30 May) was taken away from host city Istanbul.

However, coronavirus case data in Russia made Moscow a less appealing option, while Lisbon appears to be the all-but confirmed decision, with for four mains reasons cited by AS.

One, Portugal has coped comparatively well during the outbreak of the pandemic, suffering just under 1,500 COVID-19 related deaths to date, according to official statistics.

Secondly, there are no Portuguese teams left in the competition making Lisbon a truly neutral venue.

Thirdly and fourthly are the facts that Benfica’s Estadio da Luz (home to Benfica) and the Estadio Jose Avalade (home to Sporting CP) are separated by just 2km, giving the possibility for a Olympic village-style centralised tournament, while Portugal’s favourable ‘economic conditions’ have apparently been taken into account.

UEFA will ratify its plans for the remaining fixtures next week (17 June), with the first games – those remaining from the round of 16 – tipped to be played on the weekend of 8-9 August.

Those fixtures will be Man City vs Real Madrid (2-1 agg), Juventus vs Lyon (0-1 agg), Barcelona vs Napoli (0-0 agg) and Bayern Munich vs Chelsea (3-0 agg).

The teams already qualified for the next round are Atalanta, Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig.

The final eight will then start just 72 hours later, with single-leg quarter-finals kicking off on Wednesday 12 August.

The final will then reportedly take place at a practically empty 65,000-seater Estadio da Luz on 23 August, two weeks later.

Barring complications, the Premier League (which has Chelsea and Man City left in the Champions League) is scheduled to finish on 26 July, while La Liga (Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid) is aiming for a 19 July conclusion.

The German Bundesliga (Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig), which was the first to resume action and has only 18 teams will have its last gameweek on 27 June, while Ligue 1 (Lyon, PSG) has already decided to curtail its campaign.

Serie A (Atalanta, Juventus, Napoli) is the only domestic league with teams still in the Champions League that plans to continue playing into August, with the 1-2nd planned as the final fixture weekend in Italy.

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Newcastle have ‘already opened talks’ with Barcelona outcast Philippe Coutinho, but any move to St James’ Park depends on the completion of the Magpies’ proposed £300m takeover.

The Brazilian international – who has spent the past season on loan at Bayern Munich – is also of interest to Tottenham and Everton, while Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea have considered launching loan moves of their own.

With his career at Camp Nou almost certainly over, Coutinho needs to find a new permanent home – and France Football claim that Newcastle is now his most likely destination.

But for a move to take place, the Premier League will need to give the green light to the proposed takeover of Newcastle by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. To date, the deal has been mired in controversy – with alleged involvement in an illegal pirate TV and steaming service, as well as human rights violations, among a number of concerns raised.

The Premier League have stated that the issues are being ‘fully considered’, but there remains optimism that the takeover will approved.

Should that be the case, a move for Coutinho – who left Premier League leaders Liverpool in a big-money move in January 2018 – to Tyneside looks likely, given the injection of cash that will flow into the north east. If the takeover isn’t approved, the Brazilian may well find himself warming the bench at Camp Nou next season.

Coutinho smashed Barcelona’s transfer record when he joined the club for £105m, but has underwhelmed in Catalonia, failing to recapture the kind of form that earned him a move to the club in the first place. He joined Bayern Munich on loan with an option to buy last summer, but the Bavarians have already decided against exercising that option.

The 27-year-old has made 32 appearances for Bayern Munich – scoring nine goals and contributing eight assists – but has been ruled out of action for the past couple of months through injury. He’s unlikely to force his way back into Hansi Flick’s plans either, with Die Roten currently on a blistering run of form in his absence.

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Paris Saint-Germain are set to wave goodbye to centre-back Thiago Silva this summer after eight years of stellar service.

The 35-year-old Brazilian, who was in the FIFPro World 11 as recently as 2015, will let his contract expire and walk away for free, and in a world in which free transfers are more valuable than ever, he may still have plenty of options to consider.

Here are 11 teams who should consider a move for Silva.

1. Everton

A source has confirmed to 90min that Everton are one of five English sides who are considering a move for Silva, and the Toffees have one main advantage in the race for Silva’s signature – manager Carlo Ancelotti.

Ancelotti and Silva have a fantastic relationship which stems back to the Brazilian’s first year with AC Milan. They grew close and reunited at PSG in 2012, and Silva has made no secret of his respect for the Italian.

“I’ve worked with a lot of coaches in my career, but one man stands out, and that’s Mr Ancelotti,” he said (via ESPN) in 2013.

“It wasn’t easy for me to find my feet when I first arrived in Europe. When I joined AC Milan I didn’t play for six months. But I was training under a great coach in Carlo Ancelotti. I can’t stress how important those six months were – they changed my life.”

2. Newcastle United

If/when Newcastle United’s takeover goes through, the Magpies will be looking for some big names to kick-start their revolution. Silva did that in Paris and he could do it again on Tyneside.

Sure, a soon-to-be 36-year-old isn’t exactly the dream signing, but Silva’s name still carries a lot of weight. Being the ones to sign him would be a huge statement for Newcastle.

Silva’s obviously not the elite talent that Newcastle would like, but in terms of long-term impact, he could be the most valuable signing available.

3. Wolverhampton Wanderers

Having risen from Championship dreamers to Europa League hopefuls, Wolverhampton Wanderers are on the hunt for big names to take them to the next level.

90min has learned that Wolves chiefs see Silva as the kind of player for the job as he comes with plenty of top-level experience in both domestic leagues and the Champions League.

Should Wolves manage to book a spot in Europe’s top competition, they would likely prove to be an intriguing option for Silva.

4. West Ham United

West Ham United are yet to see the rewards for their significant investment in the playing squad. They have found themselves in a relegation battle this season, so finding some experienced help at the back is a must for David Moyes’ side.

Silva’s years of practice at the highest level would work wonders for 23-year-old Issa Diop, who has long been seen as one of the Premier League’s most promising youngsters. That mentorship could be all the Frenchman needs.

Affording his wages would not be a problem, and the fact that he would walk into the first team may make West Ham an attractive proposition.

5. Arsenal

Arsenal are on the hunt for free transfers this summer, and 90min has learned that Silva is one of the players on their wish list.

With doubts over the long-term future of Silva’s former teammate David Luiz’s future at the club, the Gunners are eager to ensure they can find a replacement at an affordable price.

A number of loan deals and free transfers and under consideration, but they don’t come much bigger than Silva.

6. AC Milan

If a reunion with Ancelotti isn’t on the cards, a return to Milan could be Silva’s preferred move.

Silva spent three excellent years with I Rossoneri, winning the Serie A title in the 2010/11 campaign, and there was a sense that he was only sold because Milan needed money.

“I hope to follow Kaká’s footsteps by one day, even if not right now, coming back to Milan,” he told Sky Sport Italia (via the Daily Mail) shortly after his departure.

“Milan was a wonderful time for me. I send the fans a big kiss, hoping to see each other again soon.”

7. Liverpool

Let’s be clear, Liverpool do not need a new starting centre-back. Virgil van Dijk and a combination of Joe Gomez and Joël Matip have got things covered at Anfield.

However, behind that trio, things aren’t so good.

Dejan Lovren has struggled this year and might even be on his way out the door this summer, and Silva could be a smart low-budget replacement. He’s no Kalidou Koulibaly, but he doesn’t need to be.

8. Barcelona

Whenever Silva’s name has been mentioned in transfer rumours over the last decade, Barcelona have never been far away. La Blaugrana have tried to sign Silva on a number of occasions, and this could be the time to strike.

Mundo Deportivo recently revealed that Silva dreams of playing alongside Lionel Messi before he retires, so much so that he would be willing to reject all other offers if Barcelona put a contract on the table.

Samuel Umtiti has been touted as a potential replacement for Silva at PSG, and replacing the Frenchman with Silva on a free transfer would be smart business for the cash-strapped Spaniards.

9. Fluminense

It’s up to Silva what he wants to do next. He’ll have plenty of high-profile offers, but if he’s ready to start winding down, a return to Fluminense could be on the cards.

He was a hugely popular figure during his time with the Brazilian side, with his form there ultimately earning him his move to Europe.

A return has long been on the cards, with former international teammate Fred leading the charge to bring Silva back this summer. Watch this space.

10. Manchester City

Manchester City need a whole host of new centre-backs. Faith in Nicolás Otamendi and John Stones is dwindling, Aymeric Laporte has battled injury and Fernandinho is a 35-year-old midfielder playing out of position.

Signing Silva to become a starter is a bit of a stretch, but he might just make a reliable backup in Pep Guardiola’s side. His love for passing would fit in perfectly at the Etihad Stadium.

Despite his age, Silva has still been a near-permanent starter for PSG this season, so he’s obviously still able to play when called upon. He could offer City a few years of cheap service before being traded in for a younger model.

11. Tottenham Hotspur

José Mourinho loves his golden oldies. He has never been afraid to sign older players, so Silva might be one to put on the radar at Tottenham Hotspur.

With Jan Vertonghen leaving this summer, finding a new centre-back is important for Spurs, and being able to do so without paying a transfer fee is a dream come true for Daniel Levy’s side.

Would they pay his wages? Probably not happily, but there might not be any better options for Spurs.

For more from ?Tom Gott, follow him on ?Twitter!

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After months of waiting, football returns to Spain as the La Liga season resumes this weekend.

On Saturday evening, league leaders Barcelona take a trip to Mallorca for their first taste of competitive football since the season was brought to an abrupt halt.

The reigning champions can extend their two point lead over bitter rivals Real Madrid with a positive result before Los Blancos play on Sunday, while the home side will be looking to steer themselves out of the relegation zone.

The Catalan giants recorded a resounding victory in the reverse fixture, with Lionel Messi bagging a hat trick in a 5-2 demolition at Camp Nou. La Blaugrana will no doubt be sweating on the fitness of their star man, with the Argentinian suffering a minor injury scare on the eve of La Liga’s restart.

When Is Kick Off? Saturday 13 June
What Time Is Kick Off? 21:00 (BST)
Where Is it Played? Son Moix
TV Channel/Live Stream? FuboTV (US)
Referee? TBC

While there remain doubts over Messi’s fitness, he is expected to start the match, although fellow forward Luis Suarez is a major doubt having only recently returned to training after undergoing knee surgery back in January.

Clément Lenglet will be out through suspension, while Ousmane Dembélé remains injured.

As for Mallorca, they’ll be without long-term absentees Abdul Rahman Baba and Leonardo Koutris, as well as midfielder Lumor Agbenyenu.

Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Piqué, Umtiti, Alba; Vidal, Busquets, De Jong; Messi, Braithwaite, Griezmann.

Mallorca: Reina; Pozo, Valjent, Raillo, Gamez; Rodriguez, Sevilla, Baba, Kubo; Budimir, Cucho.

The two sides have not met too often in recent history, with the home side having been out of the top tier since 2013. Unsurprisingly, Barcelona have come out on top on most occasions, winning 14 times to Mallorca’s two – including Copa del Rey fixtures.

In the 5-2 victory back in August, Barca continued their streak of six home victories in a row over the island side.

While it’s been a somewhat turbulent season for Barcelona, with a multitude of off-field issues, they remain top of the table and had won four of their last five prior to the league’s suspension.

Mallorca, meanwhile, had been in relatively inconsistent form, finding themselves in 18th place, but had won two and drawn one of their last five fixtures.

Here’s how the two teams fared in their last five league outings.

Barcelona

Barcelona 1-0 Real Sociedad (7/3)
Real Madrid 2-0 Barcelona (1/3)
Barcelona 5-0 Eibar (22/2)
Barcelona 2-1 Getafe (15/2)
Real Betis 2-3 Barcelona (9/2)

Mallorca

Eibar 1-2 Mallorca (7/3)
Mallorca 1-0 Getafe (1/3)
Real Betis 3-3 Mallorca (21/3)
Mallorca 1-0 Alaves (15/2)
Espanyol 1-0 Mallorca (9/2)

Although it won’t be a straightforward affair for Barcelona, you can only see one outcome in this fixture – an away victory.

That being said, the home side will pose a threat with the likes of Cucho Hernandez and young Real Madrid loanee Takefusa Kubo, although the absence of a home crowd may be a great hindrance.

Prediction: Mallorca 1-3 Barcelona

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Barcelona need to raise around €70m in player sales by June 30 if they are to press on with signing Inter forward Lautaro Martínez this summer.

Martínez comes with a €111m release clause inserted into his contract, which both Barcelona and Inter have accepted will be impossible to trigger given the financial impact the coronavirus outbreak has made on world football. Even Barcelona have suffered as a result.

Selling players has been an easy way of raising money in years gone by, but that hasn’t come so easy for Barcelona in recent years. They have spent huge sums on the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Ousmane Dembélé and Antoine Griezmann and earned very little in return.

According to Mundo Deportivo, things have taken such a turn that Barcelona need to raise €70m before the end of the financial year if they are to break even.

There are a few players who are expected to be moved on, with Coutinho, Jean-Clair Todibo, Rafinha, Moussa Wagué and Carles Aleñá all named as likely casualties of the situation.

The goal is to have enough money raised by the end of June to be able to balance the books, which will then allow Barcelona to start focusing on their transfer business for next season. The obvious man in their sights is Martínez, who will cost at least €60m in cash on top of at least one player.

Inter have made no secret of their desire to keep Martínez, and chief executive Giuseppe Marotta told La Gazzetta dello Sport that he hopes Barcelona decide against pursuing a deal.

“It is difficult to pronounce on his future at this moment, but I say to him – stay focused on the present, there is a season that resumes, there are goals to hit,” Marotta said.

“There is no desire to sell Lautaro. He is young, has the future in his hands and is a functional element for [Antonio] Conte. Then, of course, there is a clause.

“I don’t know what Barcelona think, maybe they will also have alternatives. I hope they don’t pay the clause. If Lautaro [leaves], a top player will arrive.

“But in this market, at European level the real difficulty will not be having to buy, but being able to sell. I would say one thing in general – Neymar-style operations, in which one team goes and takes one player away from another, will not be seen for many years.”

For more from ?Tom Gott, follow him on ?Twitter!

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Lionel Messi returned to full Barcelona training on Monday following a minor injury scare, making an anticipated recovery ahead of La Liga’s restart.

Barcelona return to league action on Saturday after a three month hiatus as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, having returned to training at the beginning of May.

The reigning Spanish champions kick off their La Liga resumption with a trip to Mallorca, but were without Messi for a handful group training sessions last week, triggering concerns that he could miss their first game back.

The Barcelona captain missed two session and trained on his own on Friday and Saturday due to a minor quadriceps injury.

The club always insisted that Messi would be fit for Saturday’s clash with Mallorca, with manager Quique Setien asserting he was fine, and the Argentinian was pictured on the club’s official Twitter account training without any problems on Monday.

Messi is the league’s top scorer this season, with 19 goals in 22 appearances. He missed over a month of action at the beginning of the campaign due to a foot injury.

Full back Nelson Semedo and midfielder Monchu Rodriguez were pictured participating in full training too, having both taken recent knocks.

? @LaLiga
? ¡Comenzamos semana!
? #Messi, @_nelsonsemedo_ y @Monchurodriguez entrenan con el grupo

?? #ForçaBarça pic.twitter.com/B0MyDAV5az

— FC Barcelona (desde ?) (@FCBarcelona_es) June 8, 2020

Barcelona will also be boosted by the return of Luis Suarez for La Liga’s restart. The Uruguayan has been absent since January with a knee injury, but Barcelona have confirmed that he will be available for their first game back.

The Catalan giants will need as strong of a squad as possible for season’s conclusion as the title race heats up and the games come thick and fast.

Barcelona currently sit two points ahead of rivals Real Madrid at La Liga’s summit, with 11 games left to play.

They face a tight turnaround during the first week of fixtures, with the visit of Leganes coming just three days after their trip to Mallorca.

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It’s clear to almost everyone with even a passing interest in both sports that basketball and football teams tend to operate in very different ways.

For one thing, NBA franchises have a budget cap whereas football clubs (at least outside of MLS) don’t. Meanwhile, football clubs cultivate youngsters in their own academies, a system alien to most professional American sports set-ups.

But come this summer, football clubs may need to look at the operations of the big sporting franchises across the Atlantic more closely with regards to how they conduct player recruitment – specifically trades.

As Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici noted recently, the next transfer window will likely result in multiple NBA-style trades – a response to the looming financial crisis that will affect most teams around the world.

One ‘trade’ that has been mooted for several months is a blockbuster swap between Barcelona and Inter.

The Catalans have been chasing Argentinian forward Lautaro Martínez for quite some time and – with balancing the books a necessity at Camp Nou – have made it clear that they’re willing to exchange numerous players of their own to make the deal happen.

It appears as if every player from the Blaugrana have been linked with a move to Italy, including the likes of Ivan Rakiti? and Samuel Umtiti.

So, to land a coveted talent without paying a whole lot in cash, Barça have made it clear that they’re willing to give up any number of their own players to facilitate the deal. A situation basketball fans may be able to recognise from last year.

The Los Angeles Lakers faced a similar scenario just over a year ago, when New Orleans Pelican star Anthony Davis requested a trade in January 2019 with his first-choice preference being the purple-and-gold outfit.

Except – there was one major issue. The Pelicans weren’t prepared to accept any offer for their star forward at the time. Even an offer of six players and two first-round draft picks (essentially eight players) wasn’t enough to convince the Louisiana team to part ways with the 26-year-old.

The February trade deadline came and with both sides unable to reach a deal, the Lakers backed off, defeated in their pursuit. Davis stayed a Pelican; the Lakers continued with the same players who had appeared for them that year.

Landed in Indy; update on Lakers-Pelicans talks. Magic Johnson, Dell Demps talked twice today, per source. Lakers willing to give Pelicans cap relief for Anthony Davis by taking Solomon Hill for Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Ingram, Rondo, Lance Stephenson, Beasley, 2 1st round picks.

— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) February 4, 2019

Yet the biggest takeaway was the fallout that hurt the LA-based team. Those able to see their names publicly dangled as trade bait, found it difficult to trust the club in having their best interests at heart.

The public nature of the negotiations attracted much criticism from those around the league, to which then Lakers-president Magic Johnson responded to in no-nonsense fashion. His words aimed to galvanise his team, in order to try make a run for the play-offs. Unfortunately for him, they fell on deaf ears.

All deals are … a lot of them are made in public.We didn’t make it in public, but that’s part of it. That’s what happens, man. We’ve got big boys here, and they bounce back. They’re fine.

– Then LA Lakers president Magic Johnson

And the team’s form suffered badly, as they would go on to lose 18 of their remaining 27 games in the season, finishing well behind the eighth-placed LA Clippers. Players seemingly didn’t have the heart to compete for the purple-and-gold anymore, disillusioned with their position on the team. The locker-room was fractured, and team chemistry was permanently damaged until the summer, where the Lakers finally got their man for six players (three were draft picks).

So, why bring up this saga from the NBA?

Well, it could formulate a similar PR disaster for the Blaugrana if their management continue to make their pursuit of Martínez public, which could derail the rest of their 2019/20 season.

At the time of writing, Barça are just two points ahead of rivals Real Madrid in the league. They still have 11 games to play, which includes some tough fixtures against the likes of Atlético Madrid and Sevilla.

With numerous reports linking a significant number of their players to Inter as makeweight to facilitate the deal for the Argentinian forward, it could seriously affect their motivation levels for the rest of the season. Do they really want to exert themselves fully, with the potential risk of injury, for a club who publicly appear willing to cut ties with them so quickly?

Indeed, Rakiti? has already publicly voiced discontent with how the team have treated him, while others seem less than happy to be linked with a move away.

Any newly created lack of motivation would certainly have a nosedive effect on the club’s performances over the last rounds of games, which could even jeopardise their La Liga title defence and Champions League pursuit at a delicate time.

But with football potentially stealing from the NBA’s playbook when it comes to recruitment, Barcelona would be well-advised to learn from the Lakers and tread lightly when it comes to just how they make their trades.

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The box-to-box midfielder – arguably the most demanding role on a football pitch.

Get it right and you look like a Swiss Army knife of footballing talent, powered by the legs and lungs of a marathon runner; get it wrong and you look like a headless chicken who is just desperate to touch the ball as much as possible.

Over the years we’ve been treated to some truly scintillating midfielders who offer both defensive protection as well as attacking prowess, while seeming to effortlessly cover the ground required to help out at both ends of the pitch.

Football is an ever-evolving sport, and not all of those changes are necessarily for the better. One thing that has become a rare commodity in today’s game is the box-to-box midfielder.

Unfortunately, the current fascination with possession-based football and playing out from defence has pretty much vacated the need for someone running 20km-per-game in the middle.

So, enjoy a bit of a trip down memory lane and remember what the complete footballer used to look like, as we give the rundown of the greatest box-to-box midfielders ever.

Perhaps better known for his tough tackling and ability to organise a side, Keane’s attacking prowess often goes unheralded.

87 goals in a career which spanned 17 years tells you the former Manchester United man was far from just a stopper.

Not only was the Irishman a threat in front of goal, he also had a knack of producing big goals at big moments. His double at Highbury in 1999 handed United the win over title-rivals Arsenal having trailed 1-0, while his header in Turin against Juventus sparked the comeback which ultimately saw his side reach the 1999 Champions League final before lifting the trophy.

A tireless work ethic combined with a tenacious will to win make Roy Keane one of the greatest box-to-box midfielders to play the game.

Often Keane’s ‘dance’ partner. Vieira was the central figure in both Arsenal’s double-winning side of 1998 and the 2003/04 ‘Invincibles’.

The World Cup winner possessed a grace and an elegance in his style of play which wasn’t quite befitting of the ferocious tackles he would thunder into.

Not afraid to stick his foot in but also adept in the opposition penalty area, Vieira was once described by Keane as ‘unplayable’, with the former United man going on to say, while he and Vieira would never be friends, the Frenchman certainly made him raise his game.

Nearly 15 years since he departed Arsenal, the club have yet to truly replace his immense presence in the heart of the midfield – a testament to the colossal midfielder.

An absolute genius of a footballer.

While Zico may have grabbed many of the headlines for the Brazil side of the early to mid-80s – Sócrates was undoubtably the brains of the team.

Having started his professional football life as a striker, the Brazil international dropped into a midfield role early on in his senior career, yet his pedigree as a frontman was clear for all to see – a whopping 236 career goals reflect a substantial return for a midfielder.

Similar to Vieira, his rangy figure saw him able to cover immense amounts grass with ease, a feat made all the more astonishing when you consider his off-field antics. The former Botafogo man once described himself as an ‘anti-athlete’, regularly indulging in large quantities of alcohol and cigarettes.

His unkempt facial hair and long black hair saw him become a style icon, a look which is still to this day synonymous with the Brazil side of the early 80s.

Very much Johan Cruyff’s right-hand man at Barcelona, Ajax and for the Netherlands, Neeskens forged an unbelievable career as a tireless central midfielder.

Christened ‘Johan Segon’ (Johan the Second) by Barcelona fans during his time at Camp Nou, Neeskens’ ability to win possession and carry the ball saw him become a firm-favourite of the Barça fans, despite a relatively barren spell at the club.

While Cruyff’s success often saw Neeskens go unheralded, the midfielder was more than capable of grabbing the headlines himself; 17 goals in 49 games for his native Holland prove that much.

Often the first name that springs to mind when you think of a blood and thunder midfielder capable of covering every blade of grass.

Gerrard enjoyed 17 years at boyhood-club Liverpool before seeing out his career with a year in MLS. The former England man was named captain of the Reds at just 23 years of age – testament to the immense impact he had in the team, even at such a tender age.

Gerrard notched 191 goals in his 18-year career, including the goal which proved to be the catalyst for his side’s astonishing comeback in the 2005 Champions League final, having trailed AC Milan 3-0 at the break.

Having started out as a winger, Schweinsteiger moved into central midfield early on in his senior career, and it was clear the German had found his calling.

During his time at Bayern Munich he was adopted in just about every midfield position imaginable, such was his immense talent and versatility. His ability to carry the ball and dictate the speed of play meant the Bayern and Germany team was built around him for many years.

His hammer of a right foot along with his ability to time late runs into the box saw him pick up more than his fair share of goals.

The term ‘powerhouse’ can be thrown about all too readily when it comes to central midfielders – it couldn’t be more appropriate than in this scenario.

Having graduated from the Ajax academy, Seedorf combined the technical nous and ability the famed youth setup is renowned for with shear, raw aggression.

His tireless work ethic seemed to know no bounds, while his ability to win the ball back and skip past men with ease meant he represented some of the best sides in Europe for many years.

When it comes to all-round footballers – it’s difficult to surpass this man.

Described by Maradona as ‘the best rival I’ve ever had’, Matthäus made a staggering 150 appearances for Germany, notching 23 international goals.

The German’s strong tackling and constant goal threat saw him considered one of the greatest midfielders ever to play the game, leading Bayern Munich to seven German titles, as well as leading his country to victory at the 1980 European Championships and the 1990 World Cup.

Matthäus’ 20-year international career – in which he competed in a record five World Cups – is testament to his immense ability.

One of the toughest tackling midfielders you’re ever likely to see. Before a fresh-faced Roy Keane arrived at Manchester United, Robson ruled the roust for many years.

The former Manchester United man had a terrific eye for goal and consistently recorded double figures during his time at Old Trafford, while his stamina and work rate saw him able to compete at both ends of the field with ease.

Robson is widely considered one of the greatest midfielders that England has produced, a belief which is supported by his impressive record of 26 goals in 90 international games.

A mountain of a central midfielder, Gullit was the driving force in the Milan side during one of their most illustrious spells.

The former Dutch international’s poise, balance and elegance was unusual for a man of his stature, but meant he was capable of carrying the ball as well as distributing it effectively.

A rare specimen of a player, Gullit combined raw aggression with unbelievable natural ability and flare. His leadership in the centre of the pitch saw him become the complete midfielder, acknowledged by his 1987 Ballon d’Or win.

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As Xavi lofted the big-eared trophy into the crisp, Berlin air, with Neymar and his ‘100% Jesus’ headband front-and-centre of all the photos, Barcelona had risen to the heights reached by few other clubs in the pantheon of greats.

The 2015 Champions League triumph completed their treble that season, proving to be the final chapter in an extraordinary period of European dominance.

Between the Ronaldinho-inspired side of 2006 and Luis Enrique’s 2015 vintage – with Pep Guardiola’s own revolutionary side sandwiched in there as well – Barcelona could lay claim to four of the ten continental prizes on offer.

Yet, in the five years since that victory, Barcelona have endured a spate of failures, greatly wounding this proud establishment.

Now, of course, ‘failure’ is a relative term. In this time span the club has won three league titles and three Spanish Cups but in the era of the ‘super clubs’ – where dropped points are considered just cause for a crisis and domestic dominance is treated as a foregone conclusion – Barça’s at times spectacular failings, both home and abroad, have inflicted significant damage.

¡Vaya ?GOLAZO? para el recuerdo nos dejó @mikelsanjo6 en la final de la Supercopa ante el @FCBarcelona_es !

Y tú… ¿Cómo viviste este momento?

Zorionak, Mikel! ? #AthleticClub pic.twitter.com/zuqmDp3HnT

— Athletic Club (@AthleticClub) May 30, 2019

Barcelona’s second official fixture of the campaign following their treble brought the Blaugrana rather quickly back down to earth. In the traditional opener for the Spanish domestic season, Athletic Club – led by future Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde – demolished their opponents 4-0 at the San Mamés.

Inside 15 minutes, defensive midfielder Mikel San José had lobbed Marc-André ter Stegen from inside the centre-circle before the 34-year-old Aritz Aduriz bagged a hat-trick against a side boasting the talents of Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez.

Barcelona’s run to the quarter-final against Atlético Madrid had progressed without much incident and when a Suárez brace gave them a 2-1 advantage going into the second leg, the Catalans seemed destined for an eighth semi-final in nine years.

But Diego Simeone’s side were well worth their 2-0 victory as Antoine Griezmann’s goals settled a bitty, ill-tempered contest. Messi was oddly quiet on the night – failing to register a shot on target or even a touch in Atléti’s box throughout the 90 minutes as the holders meekly bowed out.

For many, the abiding memory of Barcelona’s 2016/17 Champions League campaign will be their implausible comeback (remontada) against Paris Saint-Germain as they recovered from a 4-0 loss in the French capital to ultimately progress 6-5 on aggregate.

However, that extraordinary reversal didn’t garner a trophy but instead passage to the quarter-finals, the setting of a convincing 3-0 loss to Juventus in Turin one month later. The second leg would not provide any repeat of events from a few weeks prior and Juve held Barça to a goalless draw (incidentally, this was the Italian champions’ eighth clean sheet of the competition that season).

The power of propaganda and hijacking of ‘narrative’ have seen this exit brushed under the carpet in place of the heroics against PSG from Neymar and co but in the end, Barcelona recorded back-to-back quarter-final exits from the Champions League.

? OTD in 2018…

“Roma have risen from their ruins! Manolas the Greek God in Rome!”

One of THE great Champions League moments ?

Take it away, Peter Drury…pic.twitter.com/GGmRvrHrbz

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 10, 2019

Going into the quarter-final second leg against Roma, Barcelona were flying high. They boasted a 4-1 aggregate lead in the tie, were through to the Copa del Rey final and were yet to suffer a La Liga defeat.

But 12 months on from their own Champions League comeback heroics, Barcelona were dealt the same fate which befell PSG as Roma, enshrined in as much myth and legend as Peter Drury could conjure, toppled Ernesto Valverde’s side.

Edin Dzeko opened the scoring inside six minutes and, fittingly, Roma’s two other scorers on the night had both put the ball in their own net in the first leg. The Roman-born captain Daniele De Rossi converted a second half penalty before Kostas Manolas sent the Giallorossi through on away goals in the final ten minutes.

SIMPLY GENIUS ?

Trent Alexander-Arnold spots Barcelona napping and Divock Origi makes no mistake!!!

4-0 Liverpool ?

Wow. pic.twitter.com/K05v1jgazZ

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 7, 2019

After getting past Manchester United to end their run of three consecutive quarter-final exits, Barcelona somehow managed to top the humiliation dished out by Roma 12 months earlier.

Barcelona won the first leg against Liverpool by a flattering 3-0 scoreline but that performance, along with Messi’s exquisite free-kick from 30 meters out – his second of the night and 600th for the club – was swiftly eclipsed as Jürgen Klopp’s side ran out 4-0 winners on Merseyside.

The swaying, singing wall of fans and flags in the Anfield stands almost sucked the ball into Barcelona’s net as Liverpool inflicted the heaviest defeat an English side has ever registered against the Catalan giants in European competition.

Throughout the turmoil in Europe, Barcelona could always fall back on their success in Spain’s domestic cup competition. Three weeks on from the Anfield debacle, Barcelona were 90 minutes away from five triumphs on the trot until Valencia shocked the clear favourites.

Despite Messi’s best efforts – he pegged Valencia back to 2-1 with 15 minutes to go – the underdogs ended Barcelona’s 1,456 day reign as Copa del Rey champions.

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Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong says small pearls of wisdom from the legendary Lionel Messi are helping him become a better player, as he continues to adapt to life in Catalonia.

De Jong’s first season in La Liga has been a disruptive one for reasons out of his control. Since arriving for close to £70m from Ajax, manager Ernesto Valverde has been replaced by Quique Setién, and the club’s boardroom turmoil has spilled onto the pitch, with Messi engaging in a public war of words with director of football Eric Abidal – a conflict that has reportedly split the dressing room.

The Covid-19 crisis that has brought football to a halt since March, and its subsequent financial implications, has created further uncertainty, but while it has been a tumultuous season off the pitch, De Jong’s development has been one of a few bright spots on it.

Mood when you’re back in Camp Nou ? #FJ21 pic.twitter.com/71ApzuKbxL

— Frenkie de Jong (@DeJongFrenkie21) June 7, 2020

The Dutchman had started all but four matches in all competitions prior to the season being paused in March, and is expected to feature again when Barça’s campaign finally resumes at Mallorca on Saturday.

The 23-year-old has improved as the season has worn on and, speaking to the BBC, he says this is due to a combination of getting to grips with the Catalan side’s 4-3-3 system and the advice given to him by six-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi.

“In Ajax and the Dutch squad I’ve had a different role but we’re playing with a double six [two defensive midfielders],” De Jong said.

“I have to adapt and it’s going OK, but I can improve. I’m at my best when I’m not the most defensive but also not the most attacking.

?????????? #stopracism pic.twitter.com/JAt7ig4UOh

— Frenkie de Jong (@DeJongFrenkie21) May 31, 2020

“If Lionel Messi is talking and giving you advice you take it as he is by far the best player in the world. If he gives advice, you listen.

“Sometimes he says you have to be deeper or to the side, small things but it makes the difference.”

For more from Robbie Copeland, follow him on Twitter!

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