Updates On Messi, Suarez, Van de Beek, Magalhaes And More
1. Barcelona striker Luis Suarez agrees personal terms with Juventus
Barcelona striker Luis Suarez is reportedly close to joining Juventus after agreeing personal terms with the Italian champions.
New Barca head coach Ronald Koeman is rumoured to have informed the Uruguay international that he is no longer wanted at Camp Nou.
Juve were quick to pounce for Suarez and according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, an agreement has already been reached between the two parties.
The Serie A giants will match the 33-year-old's current salary, it is claimed, and confirmation of the free transfer is believed to be imminent.
2. Messi misses Barca's second preseason training session
Lionel Messi missed his second Barcelona training session in a row, the club confirmed on Tuesday and in doing so edged closer to a potential fine for breach of contract.
New coach Ronald Koeman took training on Tuesday at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, Barca's training centre, with the same 19 players that had trained on Monday night, the club said, which means Messi was again absent.
Messi missed obligatory Covid-19 testing on Sunday, which every player needed to pass before being allowed to train. A third absence from training could see him accused of breach of contract by Barca, dpa cited Spanish media reports.
Should that be the case, according to Spanish employment law, Barcelona could fine the player 25 per cent of his monthly salary.
Messi told the club last Tuesday that he wanted to leave, but his bid to do so was dealt a severe blow on Sunday, when the Spanish league sided with the club in his contractual disputed
3. Donny van de Beek's heartwarming Man Utd shirt number choice explained
Donny van de Beek is set to complete a move to Manchester United described as a "dream come true" by his father.
The Ajax midfielder will move to Old Trafford on a five-year deal with an option for an extra year for £40million after rising through the ranks at the Netherlands.
He will be unable to keep his current No.6 shirt at United with Paul Pogba currently occupying the squad number.
According to the Daily Mail, Van de Beek will request the No.34 shirt in tribute to his former academy team-mate Abdelhak Nouri.
Nouri and Van de Beek rose through the ranks as children together at Ajax before Nouri tragically collapsed during a friendly in the summer of 2017 and suffered severe brain damage.
4. Gabriel Magalhaes' shirt number confirmed as Arsenal seal £27m transfer
Arsenal have bolstered their defensive options with the signing of Lille centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes for a fee believed to be in the region of £27million.
The Brazilian, who has been on the cusp of sealing a move to the Premier League for the past week or so, has put pen to paper on a long-term deal at the Emirates Stadium.
Gabriel becomes Arsenal's fourth signing of the summer following the additions of Cedric Soares, Pablo Mari and former Chelsea winger Willian.
Gabriel becomes the second player to have swapped Lille for Arsenal in the past 12 months, after Nicolas Pepe's £72million switch to North London last summer.
The No.6 shirt has been vacant in North London for just over the past year, with it last being worn by former captain Laurent Koscielny. Before that, the likes of Tony Adams and Martin Keown had also donned that particular number.
At Lille, Gabriel most recently wore No.4, but that is already occupied at the Emirates Stadium by William Saliba, who could partner Gabriel in a new-look Arsenal back-line this season.
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