By January of 2004, Barcelona was a club in deep crisis. Since the 1999-00 season, they’d finished further and further down the LaLiga table — second in 2000, fourth in 2001, fourth in 2002 and a disastrous sixth in 2003. 

The 2003-04 season looked to be even worse yet. Club president Joan Gaspart had been forced to resign because of the decline, and his young replacement, Joan Laporta, had begun his presidency in farce after promising Barcelona supporters David Beckham only to see him land at Real Madrid.

How much do you love Lionel Messi? A little? A lot? Possibly too much? Not even a little bit? A decidedly unhealthy amount? You have a Messi shrine in your closet that features his picture in a heart-shaped frame, surrounded by candles?

However much (or not much) your love for Messi, you still don't love him as much as this dude, who swam to Messi's yacht in hopes of meeting Messi and getting a picture.

Real Madrid reserve forward Jese has begun a music career with the release of his debut single "Yo Sabia." There is an accompanying music video. It features someone named (I swear to God) “De La Ghetto.”

Warning to discerning readers: there is a butt.

This is not a music video. This is a cry for help.

Gerard Pique is Catalan, born and bred. He came up through Barcelona's famed "La Masia" academy and his grandfather was a vice president of Barcelona. Now, Pique occupies an arguably more important role at Barca: central defender. This has worked to his advantage in many ways. It granted him access to pop star Shakira, his romantic partner. It also made him a lot of money. But just how much? How much is Gerard Pique's net worth?

Neymar scored 31 goals in 49 appearances for Barcelona last season, helping ensure a La Liga and Copa del Rey double for the club, but the Brazilian captain hasn’t cracked UEFA’s list for the top 10 players in Europe.

17-year-old phenom Martin Odegaard’s standing with the Real Madrid first team just became that much more confusing. The latest reports from the Santiago Bernabeu allege that Real Madrid club president Florentino Perez has forced manager Zinedine Zidane to include Odegaard in the club’s pre-season tour against Zidane’s wishes.

Some great players are simply synonymous with their actions on the pitch. Andrea Pirlo is heralded as the world’s greatest direct free kick taker, Lionel Messi is unsurpassed when it comes to dribbling and Cristiano Ronaldo’s right foot is a bonafide deity. 

For Luis Suarez, his reigning domain is certainly more niche but no less impressive. No one hits a side volley quite like the Uruguayan number nine. 

Such has been the ease with which Neymar’s transitioned to life in Barcelona that it’s difficult to imagine the Brazilian captain ever struggling following his move from Santos in June 2013.

However, Neymar has revealed to TV Globo that his first days at the Camp Nou were riddled with fright and nerves.

Between now and August 31st, expect to hear an incredible amount of noise regarding speculative transfers, rumors spun by players’ agents and utter nonsense from tabloids trying to sell papers. It's the summer transfer window!

It’s the best of times, it’s the worst of times. Primarily, it’s the absolute worst. Especially if, like me, you’re a supporter of Newcastle United and seemingly about to lose every player in your squad.