Barcelona 5-0 Elche: Messi, Neymar and Suarez all on target in Blaugrana romp

Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez all found the back of the net as Barcelona destroyed Elche 5-0 in the first-leg of their last-16 Copa del Rey tie. The breakthrough came on 34 minutes when Neymar side-footed home from close range and they turned on the style as Suarez and a Messi penalty made it 3-0 at half-time. Jordi Alba made it four early in the second half before Neymar added his second in the 59th minute to complete the scoring. The victory eases the pressure on coach Luis Enrique, who came in for criticism after dropping Messi to the bench as the Catalans were beaten 1-0 by Real Sociedad in La Liga on Sunday. The Brazilian wasn't do be denied, though and finished off a neat passing move by passing the ball into the back of the net from a matter of yards out. Suarez was the man to assist - squaring for the Brazilian to break the deadlock and open his Copa account for the season. Barca started brightly on Tuesday night as the Argentine, swiftly restored to the starting XI, jinked through the Elche defence and fired straight at Przemyslaw Tyton after 10 minutes. Dani Alves then went close with a long-range effort after Titon elected to punch Messi's inswinging free-kick, while Neymar dinked his team-mate's lofted pass wide of the visiting goal before the half-hour mark.

Inter and Bayern agree deal for Xherdan Shaqiri

Xherdan Shaqiri is set to join Inter, the club have confirmed, after they reached an agreement with Bayern Munich on Thursday. The Switzerland international has agreed a move to the Italian giants, with a four-year contract just requiring his signature after the clubs settled on a fee. The Nerazzurri have agreed to sign the Switzerland international on loan until the end of the season for €2 million, and will then be obliged to pay €12m at the end of the season to make the deal permanent. An extra payment will be made if Inter qualify for the 2015-16 Champions League. Inter announced the transfer is almost complete on their television channel, claiming the highly-rated 23-year-old attacker just needs to put pen-to-paper on the verbally agreed contract to seal the deal.

Oshoala dreams Glo/Caf AWPOTY award

The Rivers Angels forward will battle with compatriot Desire Oparanozie and Cameroonian star Annette Ngo Ndom of the female version of Africa’s best player. The Super Falcons player has said that winning the continent’s top prize for women will have a positive impact on her careerSuper Falcons’ prodigy Asisat Oshoala has revealed her target of winning the 2014 Glo/Caf African Women Player of the Year to be announced on Thursday. The 20-year-old prodigy, who won the Golden Ball and Golden Boot award with seven goals at the Fifa U20 Women's World Cup in Canada expressed her delight making the top three of the award and is hoping to go a step further winning the crown. "It means a lot to my career and it’s a very good thing to me as an individual,” Oshoala reported

Barca elections to be held in 2015

Incumbent Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has announced the club will hold an election at the end of the current season. An election was due to be held in 2016 but Bartomeu has decided to bring it forward to due to pressure on the club, as issues on and off the pitch have mounted this season. The elections have been brought forward to ease the crisis at the Catalan club, with sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta sacked this week and assistant Carles Puyol departing. After turning up an hour late for Wednesday’s press conference, Bartomeu said: “Sorry for the delay. I have called this press conference to communicate we have decided to call elections at the end of the season. “The elections have been called to ease the pressure around the club. Its undue pressure as this club works well socially and economically.” Bartomeu, who confirmed he would stand, added: “I ask all candidates to use fair play during the campaign as they talk to socios who will vote.

Vincent Enyeama wins Goal Nigeria Player of the Year

The Lille and Super Eagles goalkeeper led the field that included illustrious compatriots Ahmed Musa, Obafemi Martins, Mfon Udoh and Ikechukwu Uche with an overwhelming 55 percent of votes cast between December 1-5, 2014. Vincent Enyeama has been voted as the Goal Nigeria Player of the Year 2014, winning the award courtesy of overwhelming votes from readers of the website. A joyful Enyeama, 32, accepted the award at his club in France on Monday morning. “I’m happy, really happy,” he enthused. “I want to thank my teammates at Lille, the Nigeria national team, my coaches, my wife, my fans, everybody who voted for me, who scream for me during matches to encourage me. And the journalists, without which nothing will be possible.” Enyeama is only the second player to win the Goal Nigeria Player of the Year award following John Obi Mikel’s dominance in the past two years.

Xavi rubbishes Ronaldo's Ballon d'Or bid: He wouldn't even be in my top three

Xavi has questioned Cristiano Ronaldo's status as the favourite to win the Ballon d'Or, pointing out the Portugal star "did not do much at the World Cup" and revealing he would not even have the Real Madrid ace in his top three. "He didn't do much in the World Cup, and in a World Cup year, the season is defined by that," the former Spain international said of Ronaldo in an interview with Sport. However, Barcelona icon Xavi does not believe the 29-year-old would be worthy winner after a Ronaldo-led Portugal suffered dismal first-round elimination in Brazil, while Ballon d'Or rivals Manuel Neuer and Lionel Messi both featured in the final, for Germany and Argentina, respectively. The attacker won the award for 2013 and is widely expected to retain his title after a year in which he fired Los Blancos to Champions League glory and played a key role in the Spanish side's remarkable run of 23 straight victories in all competitions.

lionel-messi-open-to-chelsea-transfer-adidas-will-help-fund-300-million-deal

According to the Express, the Argentinian forward has already had a dispute with the Catalan side over his wages. Lionel Messi is allegedly open to a transfer to Chelsea. He is even prepared to get into a dispute with Barcelona over his current income that will then pave the way for him to transfer to Stamford Bridge. Lionel Messi currently earns around $25 million a year playing for Barcelona. However Cristiano Ronaldo, who is thought of as Lionel Messi’s greatest rival for the crown of best soccer player in the world, earns $29 million. Messi apparently wants to earn this sum too.

Messi 'obviously' not joining Chelsea, says Mourinho

 

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho claims rumours linking Barcelona's Lionel Messi with a move to Stamford Bridge are "obviously" false. The Portuguese insists that the Blues will not be signing the Barcelona superstar, despite his recent revelation that he may not finish his career at the Camp Nou. Messi sparked the rumour mill into overdrive recently when he appeared to suggest that he might not finish his career at Camp Nou. But Mourinho, who went up against Messi several times during his time as Real Madrid coach, is adamant that such stories are falsified. Mourinho told reporters on Friday: "My reaction is that the media world changed so much that the football world also changed so much. Premier League leaders Chelsea were subsequently identified as a possible destination for the Argentine superstar, while Manchester City is also monitoring his situation.

Carlo Ancelotti: Suarez won't ruin Real Madrid plans, says Ancelotti

Ancelotti is not concerned that last season's Premier League top goalscorer will disrupt his own plans unduly at Santiago Bernabeu. Carlo Ancelotti does not believe Barcelona's wild card option Luis Suarez will ruin Real Madrid's chances of winning El Clasico on Saturday. Ancelotti, who is in his second year as Real Madrid boss, thinks the Catalunya club have been boosted by Luis Enrique's appointment this summer and highlighted Lionel Messi and Neymar as dangermen. "Barca seems to me to be a more motivated side - they have a new coach and new players," he continued. "Defensively, they're very solid. "If Luis Suarez plays tomorrow or not, it won't change our plans," the Italian coach told reporters on Friday. "If he does play, it's not a problem for us.