Barcelona hold 'secret talks' with Messi's replacement, 3 Real Madrid stars want to leave and more La Liga news: 24 January 2019

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FC Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu Arrives At Madrid High Court
FC Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu Arrives At Madrid High Court

The winter transfer window is set to shut in a week and the Spanish clubs are all very active in the market right now. All the big clubs are looking to get that extra boost to secure the titles and top 4 places while the sides in the bottom half of the table are doing all they can to secure their place in next season's LaLiga.


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Here are the top news and rumours related to the Spanish clubs today:

De Jong confirms he rejected PSG and Manchester City

Barcelona surprised their fans last night by announcing the deal for Frenkie De Jong. The Dutch midfielder will be joining from Ajax in the summer but the Catalan side decided to announce the deal yesterday itself to keep PSG and Manchester City away from the 21-year-old.

De Jong was a target for the two European giants as well and he confirmed that he rejected them to join Barcelona. “I am happy, proud and also somewhat relieved it is now completed. I had spoken to PSG but I spoke to Maxwell and my agent told them that I would not be moving, I had also spoken to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City,” De Jong told NOS (via Goal).

“I am very happy and proud that both those clubs wanted to sign me and others too, but Barcelona have wanted me for a long time and I know they have a financial situation where they cannot spend a lot of money,” added the midfielder.

Continuing to talk about his move, the Dutchman said, “They have always been my dream club, they have always been serious about signing me and I always watched them when I was younger, which turned me into a fan. I’m not going as a tourist, and I do not want to say that I will be benching star players but I have a chance of getting minutes in a playing style that fits me.”

“The transfer fee will not impact me, I will just do my own thing.”

Southampton FC v Chelsea FC - Premier League
Southampton FC v Chelsea FC - Premier League

Morata asked for Atletico Madrid move, says Sarri

Alvaro Morata in on his way out of Chelsea with Atletico Madrid said to be his destination. The Spanish striker has been replaced by Gonzalo Higuain at Stamford Bridge and the Chelsea manager, Mauri Sarri has revealed why they had to make the change.

The former Napoli manager has confirmed that Morata was the one who asked for the move away and that is the reasons why Chelsea signed Higuain. “I think that Morata is a very good player. I think that Morata has the characteristics for playing in my team. But Morata, one month ago, said he wanted to play in another team.” Sarri said in his pre-Spurs press conference.

“So it was really very difficult for him to give us the 100 per cent for his mental situation, I think. But I think that Morata is potentially a very important player. From the physical and technical point of view, he is a very good player and suitable for my football. But the situation changed in the last month. So we needed to change,” added the manager.

Morata is now expected to complete a loan move this week. Atletico will have an option to buy him in the summer but there are a few reports that suggest that the loan deal is for 18 months, and not until the end of the season.

Real Madrid Press Conference
Real Madrid Press Conference

3 Real Madrid stars want to leave

Real Madrid are not having a good season and things are going from bad to worse for them. They have already lost Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer of 2018 to Juventus and now it looks like there are a few more players who want to leave.

Diario GOL are reporting that Isco, Marco Asensio and Marcelo have informed the club that they are looking for a move away in the summer. The Spanish giants are investing in youth and the trio are not willing to fight for their place at the club anymore.

Isco has been linked with Manchester City and Chelsea and is the player who is very likely to leave first. He is not a part of Santiago Solari's plans and has been benched or out of the Match Day squad more often than not.

Asensio wasn't linked with a move away so far but it looks like he too is not willing to remain at the club. Marcelo, meanwhile, has been linked with a move to Juventus ever since Ronaldo joined them.

France v Argentina: Round of 16 - 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia
France v Argentina: Round of 16 - 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia

Barcelona have a deal with Kylian Mbappe

Don Balon have the biggest and the most shocking news of the day! The infamous Spanish publication reports that Barcelona have identified Messi's replacement and it is none other than – Kylian Mbappe.

The Frenchman is said to be their top target and they have a plan in place to sign him as well. Don Balon claim that it is a very simple plan and it is the perfect one every drawn by Barcelona in regards to Messi's replacement.

Mbappe's contract at PSG end in the summer of 2022. The forward has already held 'secret talks' with Barcelona, according to the report, and is willing to join them in the summer of 2021.

Messi, who will then be 34, will slowly step aside and Mbappe will be the new king of Camp Nou. Don Balon also claim that whoever wants to sign him now, will have to pay around €300 million.

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