Barcelona

Multiples sources have now confirmed that the Riqui Puig LA Galaxy contract has been agreed to, with the 23-year-old joining from Barcelona on a free transfer despite still having one year left on his contract at the Camp Nou.

Barça manager Xavi told Puig back in May that he wasn't part of the club's midfield plans for the new campaign, and after being left off the team's preseason tour of the United States, the "next Iniesta" has signed a three-year deal ahead of the MLS transfer window closing Thursday.

A well-oiled defense can be the difference between going out in the group stage and winning a tournament. Scoring four goals in a game is well and good until you turn around are realize the other team scored five. Every successful team needs to be able to keep the ball out of its own net. Defending is an art, and at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, many artists will be on display, putting their bodies on the line to ensure their team advances to the next round. But not all defenders are created equal.

Juventus and FC Barcelona squared off in Dallas on Wednesday night for another preseason friendly. The teams displayed their attacking prowess for 90 minutes with the spoils ultimately shared finishing 2-2, but Weston McKennie, a Dallas-area native, was strangely kept on the bench.

Barcelona is scary again. Former player now manager Xavi corrected course for the Catalan club last season and now has the roster to go for titles. The potential Barcelona starting XI 2022-23 lineup is not only filthy, but has incredible depth.

FC Barcelona’s money issues are no secret. The Spanish giant famously had to let Lionel Messi leave for PSG after a violation of LaLiga’s financial fair play rules. In March 2021, the club was technically bankrupt. Prior to the 2021-22 season, La Blaugrana were not able to register the salaries of Memphis Depay and Eric García until several players accepted wage deferments. All the while, Barcelona debt reached a reported $1.32 billion. 

Seven seasons after joining the club, Paulo Dybala has completed his move away from Juventus. He will be playing for AS Roma following months of speculation and near guarantees that he would be moving to Inter Milan. But what happened? How did this beautiful marriage fall apart and crumble so quickly and so catastrophically?