Messi and Argentina Back on Track

Millions of Argentinian fans can breathe a sigh of relief today after their team's sensational performance against CostaRica. May be beating CostaRica should never be considered sensational, but then considering their last two performance this was nothing short of sensational. It's not only the Argentinian fans who are relieved, but also the Barcelona ones. Messi unfortunately have come under lots of flack from press in home country and right now there is a change in the mood. It is rather unfortunate to put the whole blame of pathetic performance on Messi, who honestly was the best player against Bolivia and Colombia and also created a host of chances but for his team mates to waste it. Finally he was given a team to express himself and boy oh boy he did really well. Two assist and a number of would have been assist summed up his great night. The match started with a nervous Messi but the second half saw the great one who love to go in those mesmirising runs. He should be a bit agitated with the number of chances both Aguerra and Higuain have wasted, but he wouldn't mind that much as he knows clearly that his coach now know the system which works with him.

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Barca Opens Title Defense at Malaga

The Spanish League's calendar has been out and we will be travelling to Malaga in the opening fixture of our title defense on the 21st of August. We will be aiming to win our fourth successive La Liga title and equal the record of the Cryuff's Dream Team. The first Clasico match which is going to be held at Camp Nou is scheduled on the 11th of December. But there is a high chance that it may be postponed as we will have our semi-final match of the Club World Cup in Japan on 15th. The opening fixture at Malaga looks like a good match to start with, but there are trouble coming in the starting weeks. Matchday 2 will see us hosting Villareal at Camp Nou, Matchday 5 has we travelling to Valencia and the very next week we will be hosting Athletico Madrid. So that's a tough start. Just to remind you all that Season's opener Spanish Super Cup is scheduled on the 14th and 17th of August. We will be playing the second leg at home. So we can expect a season long sledging attacks between two clubs.

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Thiago Extends Contract till 2015

Upcoming Spanish midfielder, Thiago Alcántara has put an end to all speculation and signed a contract which will see his stay at the club extended to 2015. Recognizing his enormous talent and brilliant performance in Under 21 European Championship, Barca has put a huge 90 Million Euro buy out clause. According to official Barca website, the official signing of the contract will take place today, Wednesday, at 17.00. Later there will be a photo session, open to the media, at the doors of the FC Barcelona offices.

Out of the Shadows, Thiago Emerges

What an impact an successful tournament makes, isn't it? What an impact a wonder goal makes, isn't it?Two weeks before I was shouting at the loudest voice in another Barcelona blog about the foolishness of letting Thiago slip away inorder to facilitate the signing of Cesc Fabregas. No one cared. But it looks like Thiago's wonder goal in the final of Euro - 21 has done the trick for him. Suddenly Barcelona fans have started to realise that it could be stupidity of monumental proportion to let this kid slip away. Tha Catalan media have suddenly recognised the talent of Thiago and today's cartoon section has a positive warning against selling him for any matter.

This is Sport.es' cartoon



Thiago triumphs with the U21′s

“Those that want me to be ‘exchange money’ need to be careful…because the change from the little bit of money could end up being costly.”

MundoDeportivo.es had this in their humour section:



“Do you think that Thiago can be successful with Barça?”

“If first they make a bad sale to Arsenal and then buy him back again for for millions, then of course!”

Translation Courtesy : Total Barca

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Happy Birthday Messi

So the little magician from Rosario turns 24 today. Quite an young age for a player who has already achieved so many feats in his career. The two time World Player of the Year was born on 24th of June 1987 in Rosario and we all know very well the journey he took into our hearts. It would an understatement to say Carles Rexach, the sporting director who signed Messi may not have imagined him being such a fine player. After all he realised within minutes Messi's potential and gave him a contract on a paper napkin. Lionel Messi has been elected the World Player of the Year for the last two years and barring some miracle would be winning it this year. That should make for a rare hat-trick of the title. People say that great players starts to show their true capability around the age of 23. So that means whatever we saw till now from messi is just the trailer, bloody hell I can't wait for the full movie. Already he is been compared to the likes of Pele and his own idol Diego Maradona. He may have not achieved their legendary status but when he finishes his career he is guaranteed to have a place along with them. Pele recently questioned Messi's claim for greatness and today said that he could only be compared to Pele if he scores 1200+ goals. Now it may be the typical pele boasting about his achievements, but somewhere we can sense that he believes that this chap could be a serious competitior to his claims of the game's greatest. The only time Pele brings the goal tally in a comparision is when he is pitched against Maradona - Messi's performance is seriously getting under the Brazilian legend's skin.

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