Latest news with #Catalonia
Vogue
3 hours ago
- Vogue
Forget Barcelona—Here's Why You Should Visit Valencia, Spain's Most Welcoming City, This Summer
When it comes to visitors, Barcelona has long suffered from too much of a good thing. However, with the conversation around tourism intensifying of late and a recent rise in the daily tourist tax, it's giving other Spanish cities a moment in the spotlight. Case in point, it's southerly neighbor: Valencia. In stark contrast to the Catalan capital, Spain's third city is calling out for visitors after the devastating floods of last October deterred travelers, despite the center itself being left unscathed. Simultaneously, this unhurried beachside city is one on the up, hot on the heels of being named both World Design Capital and Europe's Green Capital in recent years. A spree of recent design-led hotel openings in the city, a new landmark contemporary art center and a wave of creatives reviving the old fishing district of El Cabanyal all point to Valencia's renaissance—and now, before the crowds come, is the time to make a trip. Where to Stay A bedroom at La Novieta hotel. Photo: Leo Fox A relative hotel desert until recent years, a crop of new addresses are cementing Valencia's resurgence as a travel destination. On the edge of Ruzafa, Valencia's most bohemian neighborhood lined with vintage stores and sprawling street-side terraces, French couple Bertrand Boullay and Fabien Peronnet have transformed a typical 1924 house of the Modernisme style, the Catalan take on Art Nouveau, into La Novieta. Originally bought as a private house, the four-bed property has been painstakingly restored, rescuing the hydraulic floor tiles and beamed ceilings and then filled with a beautiful collection of antique and vintage sourced pieces.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Barcelona exit on the rocks as negotiations come to standstill
Barcelona have plenty of motivation to speed up their exit operation this summer, as Director of Football Deco looks to move on a number of players in order to clear salary limit space for the potential signing of Nico Williams. As many as seven players will need to leave if the Blaugrana want to avoid sacrificing one of their more valued assets. In that list is Ansu Fati. It has been apparent for some time that the 22-year-old's future lies away from Camp Nou, with Hansi Flick offering him precious little in the way of opportunities. Hence, he will seek opportunities elsewhere. It had been reported that he was on the verge of a move to AS Monaco, but that move appears to be at a standstill. Fati to Monaco held up Fati has supposedly given the green light for a move, and Monaco coach Adi Hutter is keen to work with the injury-prone forward. However Hutter has asked for as many deals to be completed before their preseason as possible, say Sport (via Sempre Barca), and wants new faces in by the 28th of June. Their information is that there are now doubts about whether a move will be completed in Monaco. Barcelona's Ansu Fati runs during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Valladolid and FC Barcelona at the Jose Zorrilla stadium in Valladolid, Spain, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Image via AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) Advertisement The Catalan daily go on to claim that while agent Jorge Mendes has been trying to wrap the deal up, their stances remain 'distant'. The deal is in real danger of collapse, They quote L'Equipe, who also say that Monaco believe Hutter has sufficient firepower in the squad, reducing the need for a move for Fati. Salary and composition of deal in question The key issues holding up the deal are the fashion of the deal. There is a fundamental disagreement on how much of Fati's salary Barcelona will continue to pay, as one of the highest earners in their squad. The second is whether the deal is a loan, whether an option to buy is included, or if it could be a sale with a buyback option included for Barcelona. Fati currently has two years left on his deal, but his exit is considered necessary to clear space in their salary limit, and the Blaugrana have supposedly set a deadline for the end of June.
Forbes
4 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
FC Barcelona Dream Still Chased By Premier League Ace Despite Williams
A Premier League star is still determined to fulfil his dream and play for FC Barcelona despite its increased interest in Nico Williams according to Mundo Deportivo, which cited anonymous sources. After Barca paid the former Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia's €25 million release clause, and announced his capture on Wednesday, Barca has moved on to trying to land the Euro 2024 winner Williams, who is also a close friend of Lamine Yamal. Doing so will require the triggering of another release clause, though this one is a lot more expensive at €58 million and won't be as straightforward for a club still recovering from a financial crisis that pushed it to the brink of oblivion earlier this decade to raise. In the meantime, while Nico has reportedly agreed to join Barca, Marcus Rashford is still pushing for transfer from Manchester United to Catalonia according to Mundo Deportivo. Before interest was sparked in Williams again, he was believed to be Barca's top target for the left wing alongside Luis Diaz. With Rashford rated at around €40 million, he would be the cheapest of these forwards while Diaz is the most expensive at something close to €85 million. Rashford and his corner don't believe that signing Williams will be an obstacle that puts the kibosh on the England international's Camp Nou dream. His input on the pitch isn't only limited to the left wing, as, unlike Williams, he can play all three positions across the front line while providing a good alternative to the aging Robert Lewandowski. The Pole is entering the last year of his contract signed when joining from Bayern Munich in the 'economic levers' summer of 2022, and Barca as of yet has no natural heir for him other than winger Ferran Torres or Dani Olmo playing as a false 9. The newspaper also writes that Rashford is willing to lower his salary demands, while United would want a reduced fee of €30 million. Even at a cut fee for Rashford, FC Barcelona might struggle to afford both him and Williams. Across those two potential deals, we're talking about more than $100 million in cash, which is still a push for Barca despite its improved financial health under President Joan Laporta.
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Barcelona Season in Review: Hansi Flick's midas touch brings silverware
With the European season officially at an end, Football España will be reviewing each and every one of the La Liga sides and how they fared this season. Results: La Liga: 1st – 88 points Champions League: Semi-final Advertisement Copa del Rey: Winners Spanish Supercup: Winners Top Goalscorer: Robert Lewandowski – 42 Top Assister: Raphinha and Lamine Yamal – 25 Season Summary When Barcelona began the season, there were doubts about Dani Olmo, their only summer signing, and generally about Joan Laporta's second mandate. By the end of it, Olmo might remain the biggest doubt, because Hansi Flick managed to obtain the maximum out of almost everything and everyone. The season began with promise, a free-flowing attack, and a smile replaced the uniform of glum expressions at Barcelona. Major wins against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich turned optimism into genuine belief, and despite losing their way in spectacular fashion in November and December, Flick saw Barcelona come out the other side. Image viaAdvertisement In 2025, Frenkie de Jong joined Raphinha on the redemption arc, and Barcelona lost just twice on their way to three trophies in Spain, and a semi-final run in Europe. Despite repeated reports of the demise of Barcelona's high line, only an absurd goalkeeping performance and the woodwork saw Inter past the Blaugrana in the Champions League. In August, it looked as if Barcelona could be facing an era of Real Madrid dominance: Flick's side beat down that suggestion with 16 goals in four Clasicos. Verdict: A+ Maybe the plus should have been reserved for a Champions League victory, but winning La Liga was a prospect that required plenty of imagination at the start of the season. Not only did Barcelona do that, they did so in swashbuckling style, playing the best football seen in Catalonia since Luis Enrique's fearsome front three. The individual turnarounds cannot be ignored: Raphinha went from a bargaining chip to a Ballon d'Or candidate, Robert Lewandowski soared past 40 goals, Pedri went from unable to play to unplayable, and Inigo Martinez roared his defence forward with warrior abandon. Lamine Yamal was coming off a brilliant Euro 2024 campaign, but even he transformed into scarier phenomenon, whisking away big team after big team with his magical feet. Player of the Season: Raphinha An almost impossible task, that based purely contributions across the season, could probably have gone to Lamine Yamal or Pedri. Yet this was the season of Raphinha. His hunger, aggression and explosiveness typified what this Barcelona were about this year. Advertisement Time and again, Raphinha appeared, a looming monument over the football match, the Corcovado itself coming up with inspiration to down Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Benfica among others. Only an lapse, an accident, robbed him of another of those moments against Inter. Pleasant Surprise of the Season: Inigo Martinez As with the previous award, this one has other pretenders, and only his injury issues see Frenkie de Jong miss out. From the first moment though, Inigo Martinez set the tone in a young football team, and marshalled a backline that by Flick's own admission, was counter-cultural to what his ageing legs and head asked of him. Image via EFE Advertisement The 33-year-old wasn't even a certainty to be at the club this season, and by the end of the season, his absence meant goals being leaked. Behind him, first Marc-Andre ter Stegen, then the melancholy Inaki Pena, then the altogether jovial retired man helping out a mate. To his left, Alejandro Balde lacking confidence, to his right, an 18-year-old Pau Cubarsi. In front of him lay Pedri, playing deeper for the first time in three years, and Marc Casado, playing at this level for the first time. Flick's praise of Martinez was reserved for precious few. If only we could have had a bit more from: Dani Olmo Mercurial is often used as praise, but in Dani Olmo's case, it was his hindrance. There were times when Olmo produced magic that won Barcelona games, finding space in a straightjacket. Yet despite his goal against Inter, Olmo struggled to hit the right notes against Real Madrid and Italians in the closing stages. Inconsistency was aided by injury, and the feeling is that Olmo could be Barcelona's X factor, but is currently just an X factor. On the horizon, you see… Plenty of reason for more optimism. Whether they win La Liga next season or not is a different conversation, but you can almost guarantee they will challenge. Barcelona will be one of the favourites for the Champions League too, and if they can keep their key players fit, there is no reason to think the Blaugrana cannot compete with anyone, and in every competition. Image via FC Barcelona Another reason for relief is the Club World Cup. Barcelona will have a rare full preseason this summer, and more than a month off, commodities that most managers cannot buy. The good news is that Barcelona managed all this with some obvious holes in their squad, and clear room for improvement. Expectation next year will be one weight they did not have to carry around this time round though.
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Barca close in on Athletic Bilbao winger Williams
Barcelona have agreed personal terms with Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams but there are still obstacles to overcome before the player gets his wish to join the Catalan club. Spain international Williams, who has scored 31 times in 167 appearances for Bilbao, has attracted interest from Arsenal and Bayern Munich this the 22-year-old agreed terms over a six-year deal that will see him link up with close friend and international team-mate Lamine Yamal at the Nou Camp. Williams asked Yamal to help him get to Barcelona, after a season in Bilbao where he helped them reach the Champions League and the Europa League semi-finals. Barcelona explored a deal for Liverpool winger Luis Diaz earlier in the summer but were put off by the Reds' £80m valuation of the Colombia has a 62m euros (£53m) release clause in his contract at San Mames, which Barcelona have indicated they are happy to activate. Sporting director Deco met with Williams and his representatives in Ibiza earlier this week, where a verbal agreement was enjoyed the best goalscoring season of his career last term, scoring 11 times in 41 matches in all campaign came on the back of winning Euro 2024 with Spain as Williams opened the scoring in the 2-1 final victory against England in Berlin. Barcelona and the '1:1 rule' While Barcelona have put a deal for Williams in place, the club remain under strict financial constraints. The '1:1 rule' states that the club can only spend as much as their income and accounts allow, with La Liga calculating a limit based on the club's expected income. Club president Joan Laporta says the club will comply with that rule but it is not clear yet how they will be able to finance their summer arrivals, as renovations to the Nou Camp has increased club debt, and income is still signed Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia earlier this week in a 25m euros (£21.3m) deal and La Liga president Javier Tebas has warned that the club will not be able to register new players unless they prove they are compliant with their financial rules."One thing is to make the signing of Joan Garcia official and another is to register him," said Tebas."Barca has to do things to be able to register him, not many, but they have to do things and they already know what they are, I'm not going to say them."La Liga revoked Barcelona's registration of midfielder Dani Olmo in January, having given the club permission to temporarily register him following his arrival from RB Leipzig. The league claimed Barcelona had failed to prove they were complying with financial rules by a deadline of 31 National Sports Council (CSD) later overruled the decision, allowing Barcelona to reinstate Olmo.
