Barca troubles continue, Alaves loom
Real eye another win without Ronaldo
BARCELONA, Aug 24, (RTRS): Barcelona’s institutional instability shows no sign of going away after another week of confusion in the transfer market, and the team will need to put on a show of unity in their first away trip of the season against Alaves.
Barca got off to a winning start by beating Real Betis 2-0 last week, although a reported U-turn on signing BARCELONA, Aug 24, (RTRS): Neymar’s acrimonious split from Barcelona escalated on Thursday as the Paris St Germain forward announced plans to sue the Liga club, two days after Barca revealed they were suing the Brazilian over breach of contract.
Reports in the Spanish media said that Neymar had filed a lawsuit via soccer’s world governing body against Barca for an unpaid loyalty bonus of 26 million euros ($30.69 million), which was included in the last contract the player signed with the Catalan side in November 2016.
FIFA confirmed to Reuters that they had “received a claim from Neymar against FC Barcelona” and said the matter was being investigated.
PSG smashed the world transfer record earlier this month by triggering the 222 million euro buyout clause in the contract.
On Tuesday, Barcelona said they were suing Neymar for 8.5 million euros as they want him to return the bonus he was paid when he signed the five-year deal.
The bonus Barca referred to is separate to the 26 million euro payment, according to reports in Spain.
Neymar’s management group N & N Consultoria responded in a statement on Tuesday that the player had fulfilled the terms of the contract, as well as stating it was planning legal action.
“I want Alex ... to be one of the big players for the future, one of the players the team can be built around,” Wenger added.
Centre back Laurent Koscielny is back from suspension for the trip to Anfield, where Arsenal have not won in the league since 2012.
Wenger’s team suffered their first defeat of the season when they went down 1-0 at Stoke last Saturday, leaving Arsenal on three points from their opening two games.
Fresh from consecutive 4-0 wins, Manchester United will be aiming for a hat-trick of victories when they face 2015 champions Leicester City at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Jose Mourinho’s side have been the most impressive of any of the title contenders in the Premier League so far with new signing Romelu Lukaku claiming three goals from the opening two games.
Leicester, though, have also given their fans plenty of encouragement with a confident 2-0 win over promoted Brighton following on from their 4-3 defeat at Arsenal in the league’s opening game.
If United needed any reminder of the threat that Craig Shakespeare’s team pose on the break, City led 3-1 at the Emirates before Arsenal’s late comeback.
Recent form in head-to-head games suggests United should have the upper hand though — they triumphed 4-1 in the corresponding fixture last season and then enjoyed a 3-0 win at the King Power Stadium. Chelsea bounced back from their opening-day shock home defeat to Burnley with victory over London rivals Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley last week but face another tough test against Everton on Sunday.
Ronald Koeman’s Everton impressed in their 1-1 draw at Manchester City on Monday with Wayne Rooney scoring his second goal in as many games.
Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas is available for selection after completing his suspension but skipper Gary Cahill remains suspended after his opening-day red card.
Fabregas