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(Cartoon by Carlos)

Cartoon: A Messi affair in the Barcelona house

An untidy board room has prompted a transfer request from the little man

Six-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi has told Barcelona he wants to leave in a “bombshell” fax that is expected to spark a legal battle over a buy-out clause worth hundreds of millions of dollars and a fight from top European clubs eager to sign up the Argentinian.

Top European clubs circle as Messi calls time at Barcelona

The Argentine legend has fallen out with the Catalan club’s hierarchy, which has alerted a number of sides in world football

Phillipe Coutinho joined Barcelona from Liverpool in January 2018 for an initial 120-million euros in a deal that included another 40-million euros in potential add-ons. (Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

Bayern Munich offer Coutinho fresh start on loan

After a torrid time at Barcelona, the Brazilian has a chance to rejuvenate his career as he joins the German champions

Keeping it in the family: Goalkeepers André Onana and Fabrice Ondoa both play for Cameroon. The cousins have played soccer together for more than a decade. (Cees van Hoogdalem/Soccrates/Getty Images)

Cameroon’s keepers of faith: Onana and Ondoa

The cousins are rivals for the Indomitable Lions’ No 1 jersey, but their relationship is amicable

Virgil Van Dijk. (Getty Images)

Van Dijk not eying Messi’s crown as world’s best

Van Dijk will come up against the five-time Ballon d’Or winner when Liverpool travel to Barcelona for their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could be in for a stressful night at the Camp Nou. (Reuters/Eddie Keogh)

Solskjaer draws upon spirit of 99 for another Camp Nou miracle

The Red Devils travel to Barcelona looking to overturn a 1 goal first leg deficit, but their manager is confident that his side are ready.

Women up: Female football teams, such as Juventus, are proving that, given the right support, their games can be equally as riveting as their male counterparts. (Marco Bertorello/AFP/Getty Images)

Women’s football deserves a cult

Give a decent location and a little promotion, and the crowds will flock to watch

A brace from Lionel Messi in the first half and a second half strike from Philippe Coutinho saw the Catalan giants blow the Red Devils away on Tuesday night(Marcelodel Pozo/Reuters)

Fantastic Messi hat-trick blows away Betis

The little magician had the Real Betis fans applauding him after he struck a magnificent treble against them on Sunday.

President Cyril Ramaphosa. (Ruvan Boshoff/Reuters)

An independent Catalonia will leave Barça in a catch-22

The team is something that an entire society can cling to, even in the dark days of dictatorship.

Cardinal George Pell was convicted in December of sexually abusing the two boys in 1996 and 1997 at St Patrick’s Cathedral shortly after he was appointed Archbishop of Melbourne. (Reuters/Mark Dadswell)

More Messi magic

Irresistible Argentinian steals the show again to leave his old master grasping for a system.

Ready to bite: Luiz Suárez celebrates scoring the goal that broke Real Madrid’s resistance in El Clásico last weekend.

How Suárez adds bite to FC Barcelona

It is nearly a week since Barcelona defeated Real Madrid in El Clasico, but the effects of Luis Suarez’s sublime goal are still being felt in Spain.

Kit cash: Luis Suárez replica shirts on sale.

A new era at the Nou Camp

As Barcelona manager Luis Enrique tries to build a dream machine. He has to start work without its most important part.

Pep Guardiola quits Barcelona

Pep Guardiola quits Barcelona, Vilanova steps up

Pep Guardiola’s assistant Tito Vilanova is to take over as Barcelona coach next season after Guardiola announced he would step down.

Chelsea on the up after Barcelona stumble

Chelsea on the up after Barcelona stumble

Didier Drogba has helped Chelsea stun Champions League title defenders Barcelona with a 1-0 upset victory in their first-leg semifinal.

Messi paves the way for Barca’s semis spot

Messi paves the way for Barca’s semis spot

Lionel Messi has inspired Champions League title holders Barcelona to a fifth successive semifinal appearance after their 3-1 win against AC Milan.

Contest is on between Ibrahimovic and Messi

Contest is on between Ibrahimovic and Messi

Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be going head-to-head against Lionel Messi after leaving Barcelona due to a fall out with Pep Guardiola and several teammates.

Messi’s magic record inches Barca closer to Real

Messi’s magic record inches Barca closer to Real

Lionel Messi’s hat-trick has set a Barcelona record of 234 goals as they beat Granada 5-3 to close within five points of La Liga leaders Real Madrid.

Barcelona seal deal with Brazilian sensation Neymar

Barcelona seal deal with Brazilian sensation Neymar

Barcelona have sealed a deal which would see talented young Brazilian striker Neymar join the Spanish club in 2014.

La Liga rich kids take duel to crisis-hit regions

The world’s two richest clubs, Real Madrid and Barcelona, take up their lonely duel for the title against the league’s much poorer sides.

Milan, Barca poised for Champions League quarterfinals

AC Milan and defending champions Barcelona both seem well placed to progress to the quarterfinals of the Champions League.