Barcelona stars Lamine Yamal and Raphinha leading Ballon d’Or race, says Rivaldo

Barcelona stars Lamine Yamal and Raphinha are currently leading the race to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or, according to Rivaldo.

The two players have been in sensational form this season and starred again on Wednesday night in a brilliant Copa del Rey win over Betis.

Rivaldo says that he can’t see anyone better than the two players anywhere in the world right now.

Yamal is widely seen as a future Ballon d’Or winner and picked up the Kopa Trophy last year at the ceremony.

Yet Raphinha has arguably been Barcelona’s player of the season so far and may well be in the running if he can continue his incredible form.

Two Premier League clubs are willing to offer a way out for out-of-favor Barcelona forward

FC Barcelona and Hansi Flick have been in fine form lately, delivering strong performances, including securing a trophy this season. However, one player who hasn’t been able to share in the same joy as his teammates is Ansu Fati.

Since his arrival at the club, Hansi Flick has elevated the performances of several players. While Raphinha may be stealing most of the headlines, even Ferran Torres appears to have taken his game to the next level under Flick’s guidance.

However, when it comes to Ansu Fati, there appears to be no way back. Once hailed as a superstar in the making, his career has taken a dramatic downturn, with little indication that he can return to the level he once promised.

Having now missed out on Hansi Flick’s matchday squads for the third time in a row, as per Spanish publication SPORT, Ansu Fati is very much on the exit ramp with two Premier League clubs – Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United interested in signing him.

This isn’t the first time Spurs are interested in signing him. Ange Postecoglou wanted the Spaniard back in the summer last season but the player chose to join Roberto de Zerbi in Brighton, although that transfer did not work out for him.

Both London clubs are grappling with injury troubles and could benefit from attacking reinforcements. Therefore, it would make sense for Ansu Fati to consider a move to either club as a way to revive his faltering career at Barcelona.

Ansu Fati is still only 22 years old and he still has enough time to turn the situation around. However, for things to happen, he first needs to start believing in himself and train the way an elite coach would expect him to.

Declan Rice outlines Arsenal transfer expectation as Mikel Arteta message speaks volumes

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has hinted at the need for more firepower in the squad following the win over Tottenham, claiming that his team could have scored 10 goals against their North London rivals.

As has been the case for the last few weeks, the Gunners saw chances come and go before Spurs took the lead in the first half through Son Heung-min. Arsenal were able to turn the game around before half time thanks to an own goal from Dominic Solanke and a Leandro Trossard strike.

That proved to be the winner, with Mikel Arteta’s side unable to extend their advantage. The failure to take chances has been a talking point around the Emirates Stadium, with a long-term injury to Gabriel Jesus only adding to the talk of a need for a new striker in January.

“The first 45 minutes were just pure domination, we showed that intent, that pressure, that desire, you could tell it was a derby. To be honest with you, we’re unlucky we probably didn’t score 10 tonight, I think that’s the feeling.”

He added: “The second half, the game got stretched, they could have maybe scored a couple, but we could have had another five or six and that’s the most disappointing thing. But to win is the most important and now hopefully we can go on a run because this is the most important part of the season.”

Arsenal transfer news LIVE – Benjamin Sesko update, Gyokeres move, Wissa decision

The feel-good factor around Arsenal has returned after their North London Derby triumph over Tottenham and that will certainly increase if the Gunners make some big moves in the second half of the January transfer window.

Signing an attacker is the absolute priority for Arsenal, as their lack of a cutting edge against Spurs showcasing that, with Mikel Arteta delivering a fresh transfer plea.

Though the focus should be further up the pitch, a deal for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi has been all but wrapped up. Acquiring one of their four striker targets this month appears unlikely but there are certainly some positives to take.

Alexander Isak and Benjamin Sesko are both fresh off scoring again for Newcastle and RB Leipzig, respectively, while the battle for Viktor Gyokeres’ signature could have taken a twist with Manchester United and Ruben Amorim believed to be looking at some alternatives.

Arsenal interested in signing Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo

Arsenal returned to winning ways in the Premier League yesterday with a 2-1 comeback triumph over Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium.

BRIGHTON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 27: Bryan Mbeumo of Brentford during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion FC and Brentford FC at Amex Stadium on December 27, 2024 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Despite the victory, the Gunners were unconvincing in front of goal, and they were guilty of squandering four big chances over the course of 95 minutes.

The London giants clearly need reinforcement in the final third to compensate for the long-term injury absence of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus.

RMC Sport now claim that the Gunners are one of the clubs interested in signing Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo this winter alongside Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.

The Cameroonian has had a fantastic Premier League campaign with 13 goals and three assists. The Bees are reportedly bracing for bids during the back end of the transfer window.

Mbeumo has a Transfermarkt value of £42 million, but RMC Sport claim that Brentford could demand a higher fee to part ways with the 25-year-old before the transfer deadline.

The former Troyes star has been very consistent for the Bees this term. He is one of the best Premier League attackers with 17 goal contributions from 25 appearances in all competitions.

Mbeumo is primarily a right winger by trade, but he can play up front in a two-striker partnership. He would be a fantastic signing for the Gunners, but a deal won’t be straightforward.

The Gunners could have an edge over Spurs and United with Champions League football. Convincing Mbeumo could be easy, but the Bees could play hardball over negotiations.

Brentford manager Thomas Frank recently said that there is no possibility of Mbeumo leaving this winter. The Bees are unlikely to sanction his sale unless they receive a significant transfer bid.

Lewis-Skelly impresses for Arsenal in north London derby win vs Tottenham

Arsenal returned to winning ways in the Premier League with a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night.

The Gunners dominated proceedings for the first 20 minutes, but Spurs broke the deadlock in the 25th minute after Son Heung-min scored from a huge deflection.

However, Arsenal managed to secure a lead before the break. Gabriel Magalhaes inflicted an own goal on Spurs with a trademark header from a corner in the 40th minute.

Leandro Trossard made it 2-1 in the Gunners’ favour with a sublime left-footed strike.

The Gunners controlled the game after the interval. They had plenty of opportunities to extend their advantage but lacked the cutting edge. Martin Odegaard missed the best scoring chance.

Gabriel was undoubtedly the man of the match. Aside from scoring, he won 100 percent of his aerial duels and made two late challenges to deny clear-cut goals for Dominic Solanke.

Alongside him, we were very impressed with Myles Lewis-Skelly, who was exceptional from left-back.

The 18-year-old has had a stellar breakthrough season with the Gunners. With Riccardo Calafiori’s injury woes, Lewis-Skelly has capitalised to become a regular starter since his league debut.

The Gunners graduate had a passing accuracy of 94 percent last night. He completed 100 percent of his dribbles with six recoveries. He also won five duels and three tackles in the derby.

Lewis-Skelly comfortably handled the threat of Dejan Kulusevski and Brennan Johnson. In our view, the youngster has become undroppable on the back of an exceptional display versus Spurs.

Kai Havertz’s Arsenal issue – Benjamin Sesko and £51m ace join as Ethan Nwaneri decision made

The next two transfer windows could result in Kai Havertz tumbling down the Arsenal pecking order.

Havertz, 25, enjoyed a strong debut campaign at the Emirates Stadium after joining the club from Chelsea in the summer of 2023 for £65 million. He looked to be an inspired signing last season, as he brought the best out of Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, while also contributing plenty of key goals along the way.

However, Saka’s injury seems to have highlighted Havertz’s struggles without the England international’s support. The Gunners are also dealing with another long-term injury to Gabriel Jesus, which means they’re likely to dip into the transfer market for at least one centre-forward.

Despite Havertz still seemingly having Arteta’s confidence, any potential transfers could see him lose his spot in the starting eleven. Football London takes a look at the possible transfer activities that could relegate Havertz to the bench.

Despite the clear need for a new striker, Arsenal are reportedly close to signing Real Sociedad defensive midfielder Martin Zubimendi. While it appears that any move for the Euro 2024 winner would likely see him stay in Spain until season’s end, it’s not unthinkable that his arrival could pose a threat to Havertz’s position.

Arteta has utilised Havertz not just in the forward line but also in central midfield. With Zubimendi’s arrival, Arteta will have a plethora of options including Declan Rice, Mikel Merino, Martin Odegaard and the incoming Sociedad man.

Reports: Ronald Araujo spurns potential Juventus move, will stay at Barcelona

Juventus may be close to officially adding a Randal, but the same doesn’t look like it’s happen with the Bianconeri signing a Ronald over the next couple of weeks.

Basically, what looked like a potential addition is no longer on the list.

According to reports from Fabrizio Romano and Mundo Deportivo in Spain on Wednesday, Juventus’ potential move for Barcelona defender Araujo has seemingly come to an end. That is because the 25-year-old Uruguayan defender has decided to stay at Barcelona after a lengthy meeting with Barca sporting director Deco in which it basically ended with an agreement that Araujo will sign a new contract with the club.

Araujo’s current contract with Barcelona runs through 2026.

Just a few short hours after reports of his decision to stay with Barcelona came out, Araujo was in the starting lineup for Wednesday night’s Copa del Rey Round of 16 tie against Real Betis.

ith no a move for Araujo very much unlikely all of the sudden, Juventus must now pivot to try and find a central defender to sign during the January transfer window. The first signing to give some much-needed defensive help has come in the form of Vitória Guimarães fullback Alberto Costa, who officially joined Juventus later in the day Wednesday. But the need for a central defender to provide some sort of depth behind Pierre Kalulu and Federico Gatti still very much remains the top priority for the final two weeks of January.

In the wake of the talks for Araujo suddenly coming to an end, the same group of names have been thrown out there as potential pivot moves. Defenders like Milan’s Fikayo Tomori as well as Dávid Hancko of Feyenoord and Kevin Danso from Lens in Ligue 1.

All three of those names come with their own challenges — which, unsurprisingly, have to do with the financial aspect of things, especially for Hancko and Danso. Another name that seems unlikely at the moment, Benfica’s Antonio Silva, would very much like to leave, according to previous reports, but is basically be blocked and isn’t considered on the market by his current employer.

Barça NewsHansi Flick talks Olmo, Pedri, Yamal, Araujo, Lewandowski after Barcelona 5-1 Real Betis

Barcelona advanced to the quarterfinals of the Copa Del Rey with a resounding 5-1 victory over Real Betis.

It was an empowering display from the Catalans, who were coming on the back of the Spanish Super Cup triumph against Real Madrid.

Speaking to the media after the game, Barcelona coach Hansi Fl

Flick went on to explain some of the changes he made against Real Betis, including Robert Lewandowski starting on the bench.ick addressed questions on his team selection and the road ahead.

Ansu Fati, meanwhile, once again failed to get into the team. Talking about the struggling forward, Flick said the player must show he is fit enough to start.

Meanwhile, there were certain green shoots for Barcelona, with respect to Frenkie de Jong and his performance against Real Betis.

The performance against Betis will certainly be a confidence booster for the Dutchman, whose future at Barcelona has come under focus in recent weeks.

Another future with an uncertain future at Camp Nou is Ronald Araujo, who is on the radar of multiple clubs across Europe. Flick, though, remained coy about the defender’s future.

Three talking points as Barcelona dismantle Real Betis 5-1 in Copa del Rey

FC Barcelona took on Real Betis in the Round of 16 of the Copa del Rey and absolutely blew their opponents away with an impressive 5-1 win. It was a performance of the highest order from Hansi Flick’s men.

It was not just about the goals that they scored but Barcelona played some of the most beautiful football they have in the last few years. For around 70 minutes, they did not surrender possession of the ball and it felt more like a rondo session than a football game.

With all this in mind, here are three talking points for Barcelona as they dismantled Real Betis 5-1 in the Round of 16 clash of the Copa del Rey at the Montjuic.

1. Hansi Flick depicts tactical nous

Hansi Flick is not one of those football managers who is very rigid about the positions that his players should occupy on a football pitch. He allows players to be fluid to bring the best out of them and trusts them to trust their instincts.

However, this can often be misinterpreted as the German coach not having tactical nous but last night against Real Betis, Hansi Flicks showed just how strong he is tactically. In fact, he has depicted this on a number of occasions.

The German coach started the season off with a 4-2-3-1 formation but after a run of middling results in November and December, he realized the need for ball retention and shifted to a more classical 4-3-3.

Last night, against Real Betis, he set his team up in the same formation, with Dani Olmo playing as a false nine rather than Robert Lewandowski as a natural striker.

Having four midfielders with the quality of Olmo, Pedri, Gavi, and Frenkie de Jong meant that ball retention was incredible against Betis, and with both Raphinha and Lamine on point from minute 1, this system offered a lot of happiness last night and a lot of promise for the future.

2. Lamine Yamal has added another weapon to his arsenal

At this point, one is running out of superlatives to describe Lamine Yamal. What he does on the pitch isn’t even astonishing anymore, and it has become the bare minimum one expects from him whenever he plays for Barcelona.

Since the turn of 2025 though, it looks like Lamine has added yet another weapon to his arsenal. Finding the back of the net was one thing the Spaniard had not yet cracked, often due to being rushed in front of the goal. However, that seems to have changed.

In three games since the turn of the year, Lamine has netted three goals. He was very unlucky not to have more against his name last night and if he keeps this form going, it is only a matter of time before he nets his first hattrick.

3. Jules ‘underrated’ Kounde

It is often difficult to shed tags that one has earned for a significant period in his career. Prior to his move to Barcelona, Jules Kounde was one of the best center-backs in the league for a good couple of seasons playing for Sevilla.

Right now though, there should be absolutely no doubt on anyone’s mind that Jules Kounde is right up there with the likes of Achraf Hakimi, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Reece James in ‘the best right-backs in the world’ discussions.