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There's been a great deal written and said about Barcelona's financial operation during the close season. They have mortgaged many of their tomorrows in an attempt to find their way out of a financial crisis. The Polish striker is the biggest bet of all.

Why? Because, as I argue here in a piece I wrote for ESPNFC, he is the one piece they hope will make a difference in a competition whose riches can begin to pay off their suffocating debt: the Champions League.

It could be a happy marriage - but Lewandowski has high standards and his new employer and his new teammates must match them.

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I wasn't in Las Vegas for this one, but I was as transfixed by the latest chapter of the rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid as usual.

So many storylines - and I hope most of them are in here. Hazard fails as false 9. Piqué the bad guy. Araújo versus Vinicius forever. Enter Lewandowski.

And in all of that, Raphina emerges as the hero.

You might have missed it. Here's my take.

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Money is always in the mix when it comes to working out where FC Barcelona might be next season. On one hand, they have a core of exciting young talent including Ansu Fati, Pedri and Gavi. But, as I write this week for ESPNFC and read here for you, the trick may be keeping them together.

Enjoy

G

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The recipe for Thibaut Courtois’ titanic performance in the Champions League final included a generous helping of Sergio Ramos and a sprinkling of resentment wrapped in an old issue of 4-4-2 magazine. From my writing for ESPNFC, here’s what I thought about after sampling the big Belgian’s showstopper. 

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Today’s story is from Michael Laudrup. My aim with Michael was simple: I wanted to get HIM to tell YOU how he did what he did. Here’s me trying to do that and Michael exceeding all of our expectations. Not for the first time.

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Hola!

Welcome to part two of the final Q&A of the 2021-22 season.

Myself and Pete Jenson take questions on Xavi and Barcelona, Valencia, Ten Haag, Rangers and Aberdeen.

Enjoy

G

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Hola!

This is it... part one of the final Q & A of the season. You asked, we answered. 

Madrid v Liverpool, Ancelotti, Camavinga, Rodrygo, Jordan Henderson, Eden Hazard, La Liga chat and much more.

Sit back and enjoy!

Graham

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Nedum Onuoha is one of the canniest and best-informed observers of the beautiful game in broadcasting. The likeable Mancunian doesn’t hold back when criticising some of his fellow pundits, who can be biased and have forgotten what it’s like to be a player.

Also in part two – brushing off accusations that Nedum deliberately threw his beloved Man City a line when playing against them for QPR in that most famous of league deciders in 2012.

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They may have missed out on Kylian Mbappe, but Real Madrid have already proved that the recruitment plan they drew up after losing Neymar to Barcelona works - and now they have an Mbappe-sized war chest to take into the summer market. Written for ESPN FC, here is my column on the Champions League finalists' inevitable next move. 

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In his autobiography Kicking Back, Nedum Onuoha describes how his Nigerian immigrant parents instilled in him an incredible work ethic and a sense of respect for others.

The pundit and ex-defender’s time at his beloved Manchester City’s Academy grounded him and taught him other values: how to be streetwise and resourceful. Standing in the tunnel with the teams as a ball boy whetted his appetite for the big time.

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com