Emilio Montiagut still remembers the sweltering heat of the spring of 2010 in Ouagadougou. At the time, he was a scout for Espanyol, and the club sent him to Burkina Faso to look for young talent in "a kind of footballing talent show" with players from different parts of the African continent. "There were more than a hundred, and every day I watched six or seven matches," says the Espanyol scout, who noted down the name of Eric Bertrand Bailly from Ivory Coast: "He played full-back, defensive midfielder, and center-back; he was a physical marvel, a spectacular footballer." He was fifteen years old and was represented by a regional branch of Promoesport, the agency that organized those days in the heart of West Africa. Upon his return, Montiagut recommended the boy to the club, and Antonio Morales, advisor and head of the youth football clubThey acquired 50% of the player's rights at no cost – Espanyol could have bought an additional 30% for €200,000. In return, Eric, who was still a child, moved to Barcelona to live and train at the Catalan club's youth academy. For a long time, he couldn't compete due to problems with his paperwork. "He arrived with nothing. I remember giving him clothes; he didn't know the language, and we enrolled him in a vocational training program. He was humble and polite, and always smiling. He was very clear that he wanted to be a professional footballer to help his family," explains Ramon Guerrero, director of the residence.

Lamine Yamal is in a celebratory mood. Three moments of brilliance from him secured a victory against Villarreal, the third-placed team in La Liga, just before facing their most difficult task: overturning a Copa del Rey tie against Atlético de Madrid that seems lost. A utopian challenge, if you stop to think about it. But when Lamine Yamal smiles like he did against Villarreal, anything can happen. And if you add Pedri's magic, it's perfectly understandable to have a license to dream. Football isn't an exact science, but if you combine Lamine's brilliance with the Canary Islander's delightful play, the result is usually good news for Barça.

A crucial victory for Barça to close out 2025 in La Liga. Hansi Flick's men secured three golden points at La Cerámica against Villarreal in a match where Lamine Yamal nearly extended their lead (0-2). Here are some immediate observations.

Job done, 2025. A year of joy in which Barcelona fans have been energized by a team that has lifted trophies, connected with the supporters, and found a way to navigate turbulent waters when necessary. To close the year, a victory in Villarreal without fanfare (0-2), in a match where Pedri was sorely missed and a moment of madness from Renato Veiga, who got himself sent off when the home side were playing their best, proved useful. But it was a deserved victory, in which Raphinha set the pace and Lamine Yamal worked his magic. Flick can go on vacation satisfied, with a four-point cushion over a Real Madrid that seems to be gradually crumbling. Barça, on the other hand, has grown stronger as the season has progressed. The wind is blowing in the Blaugrana's favor, who this year have successfully implemented a generational change in goal. Just the week Ter Stegen returned to action in the Cup, Joan Garcia delivered one of his most complete performances, proving a nightmare for the home side. Every save he made demoralized Marcelino, but simultaneously warmed the hearts of Barcelona fans who have enjoyed a near-perfect year. Only the tragic night in Milan was a bitter pill to swallow.

In modern football, patience is a rare commodity, especially in a position as exposed as goalkeeper, where one mistake can outweigh dozens of successes. This constant demand, both technical and mental, defines a goalkeeper's career. And few exemplify this better than Arnau Tenas. Having come through the entire La Masia academy, Tenas grew up under the pressure of an uncompromising system and with the label of future successor to Víctor Valdés, the most decorated goalkeeper in FC Barcelona history. The perspective of his mentor

Denis Silva, current member ofstaff From Chelsea's first team, he coached him for three seasons at La Masia (Under-14 A, Under-18 B, and Under-18 A) and remembers a goalkeeper with a very strong personality from a young age. "He was a leader, with a lot of character. In the youth teams, he was one of the captains," he explains. A leadership that wasn't limited to wearing the armband, but was manifested in the way he organized the team from the back and took responsibility in high-pressure situations. "He had a ball distribution that few goalkeepers have had at Barça," his former coach emphasizes. His ability to play short passes, find the free man, and read long balls fit perfectly with the Barça style of play. "He had a great understanding of the game; he grasped the style from a young age." All of this is even more impressive considering his physical attributes. "He wasn't an imposing goalkeeper, but he got where he is because he was not only very good in goal, but exceptional with his feet," Silva adds.

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In 2007, Gerard Moreno signed for Badalona's youth team because Espanyol didn't want him. There, he met Manolo González, who was just starting his coaching career and who mentored him. He went on to have a successful career in La Liga and returned to Espanyol, the club he's supported since childhood, as a club idol. She left for Villarreal in tears. And last night, in his first match against his "footballing father," he scored a goal and led the Yellows to victory at the RCDE Stadium, breaking the hearts of the nearly 30,000 Espanyol fans who cheered him when his name was called. All these fans were feeling very optimistic when they saw their Espanyol not back down even against the third-placed team in La Liga. And that's despite the fact that Carlos Romero and Ramon Terrats, on loan from Castellón, couldn't play because Espanyol refused to pay the buyout clause. Salinas took the full-back position and almost created the first goal with a good cross that didn't find a finisher. Earlier, Roberto had collided with a defender's legs when half the stadium was already celebrating a goal. Dolan, Omar El Hilali, and Urko González also returned to the starting eleven.

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The captains and players of the Spanish First Division are standing up against La Liga and the match they want to take to Miami. The Spanish Footballers' Association (AFE) has announced a protest during Matchday 9, which takes place this weekend. The players will stop for 10 seconds at the start of each match. The reason they give is "a symbolic protest in protest of the lack of transparency, dialogue, and coherence" of the Spanish employers' association led by Javier Tebas. The players' union adds that they have left out the players of Villarreal and Barcelona, ​​​​the two teams that will have to play in the United States before Christmas, so as not to construe it as a "measure against any club."

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Well, Barça will play a league match in Miami. If Villarreal-Barça is being played in Florida, it's basically to make money, plain and simple. Like the Super Cup in Arab lands. The amount of money the Saudis are paying is so outrageous that everyone ends up bowing their heads, because the money reaches every club. And deep down, we all have a price. After the Saudis, now it's Miami's turn.Welcome to Miami.", as Will Smith sang in a pretty bad song, but one that was catchy.

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We accept with resignation and normality the loss of everything. Well, some lose it and others sell it. Thousands of people live resigned. "It's what it is," they say. "It's the way things are, nothing can be done," they add. "It's against everything, you're the people who always say No", they respond if you question them. Whenever people with power make a controversial decision, they defend themselves like this: don't say No, accepts that it's a natural evolution. What a shame.

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The Valencian sportswear brand Luanvi was forced to enter bankruptcy proceedings after accumulating a debt of more than 11 million euros. Its business model, based on purchasing materials from China, was disrupted during the pandemic, as was the loss of its CEO and founder, Vicente Tarancón, in the DANA. The Valencian brand, known for having outfitted several First Division football clubs and basketball teams, is facing its worst crisis since its founding.

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Barcelona is a party if you're a Barça fan, although Villarreal took all three points to La Plana and celebrated their Champions League appearances in the process. Catalonia is thrilled with a team that doesn't want to lose even its ribs on days when you have a hangover. But it's impossible to compete equally when you're already champions and when the week has been long, with a demanding derby and an anthological parade. After bringing half the city out onto the streets, Barça celebrated the league title with another party at the Olímpic Lluís Companys stadium. This began after a loss to Villarreal in a match in which the only one who ended up with a sour face was Lewandowski, who already knows he won't be the league's top scorer this year. You can't have everything in life. This is only the first defeat in La Liga this year, 2025. A success without flaws, in which no one can doubt the play of an exciting team.

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