Football

Coutinho rubbing salt in the wounds.

Seems like Barca just gave up

After 10 minutes Ter Stegen was giving the kind of looks I’ve had many times in 5-a-side.

8-2 ouch i expected a Bayern win but that is a thrashing.

First CL semis without Messi or Ronaldo since 05/06.

i'd 8-2 be a barca fan today, the knives are well and truly out for them in all corners of the press

messi to ........... ?

Messi to Man City. Shame Stoke aren't in the prem next season.

That stat is crazy. And shows just how long they have been in the elite end of football.

what sort of wages would / could he demand ?

north of 600k
600k a week
alexi sanchez - wages 500k
mezut ozil - wages 350k

messi that is ^

I would love to see him in the Premiership... Preferably at Chelsea, obvs, but that's never gonna happen...

Me too. I wonder if United would break the piggy bank?

I can see him following Pep to Citeh, they've got the cash as well... Don't know why anyone would wanna settle in Manchester but there you go...

I can't. He's too old.
If he came to the prem he'd stand out by a mile. A bit like shevchenko.
"Guys. What the fuck are you all doing here? Why are you all running at full pelt everywhere?"

I think he's a one club player.
Barca need younger defenders.

Maybe he'll go to Juve and he and CR7 can dazzle the world together in the dying days of their careers...

Imagine. Fanboys imploding everywhere when they realise they're both aliens and amazing players.

That would be amazing.

On a side note , got a bad feeling Barca will be in for Van Dijk and Mane.

Barca, if the cycle is correct, are at the "need a Johann" stage of development.

barca don't have £400mn

It'll be Klopp, mark my words... And how could he resist?

I think it will be one of Xavi, Pochettino or Bielsa.

My wife reminded me yesterday it was 10 years since she was living in Barcelona and we saw them in their prime, a team with a core of Piqué, Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets and Messi. It didn't really matter who else was in the team then (though people like Abidal and Dani Alves were class) because they were the team, all having come through La Masia and embodying the club.

Their recruitment and development since then hasn't come anywhere close to replicating that kind of main body of the team and their identity has gone. I feel bad for Piqué and Messi that they've now got this ignominy to go with the good times.

I can't feel sorry for professional football players who've had so much success at the top level, tough shit, evolve or get out of the way...

I'm sure Barca will be back...

Messi is probably still the best in the world, but Pique is well past his sell by date. Why doesn't Umtiti get a game?

I don't think the tax arrangements in the UK would suit Messi. He bought an apartment right next to the Inter stadium very recently.

Coincidence? Yes probably.

I think he'll stay is Bartomeu goes and they overhaul the squad. Too many mediocre expensive players.