🚨 Villarreal STUN Barca, latest on Chelsea duo, potential Arsenal exit, Howe clarifies Trippier transfer situation, latest AFCON goals, and more

Today's round-up, featuring Barcelona, Chelsea, Arsenal, Newcastle and much more!

Good morning! Welcome to the latest edition of the Daily Briefing - thanks as always for reading, and hope you enjoy! :-)

Today’s top stories:

• Xavi to leave Barcelona after latest nightmare defeat

• Who could be in line for Barca and Liverpool jobs?

• Latest update on Chelsea duo’s potential departures

• Plus more from Arsenal, Man Utd and Real Madrid

Angola

• *Such* a satisfying finish here from Mabululu as Angola beat Namibia. FT Angola 3-0 Namibia [Pictures from Sky Sports]

Arsenal

• Thomas Partey has been linked with two La Liga clubs, but what’s the truth? Fabrizio Romano has the latest info in his column here.

• Kaoru Mitoma to Arsenal links emerge!

Atletico Madrid

• Moise Kean to Atletico Madrid, here we go! The agreement has been finalised between Atleti and Juventus. Kean will travel to Madrid in the next 24-48h to complete medical tests. Loan fee: €500k. No buy option clause included.

• Could Atletico Madrid re-sign this former player of theirs? Fabrizio Romano’s latest info here.

• Diego Simeone: “Arthur Vermeeren has a good present and an important future. I already told him that age doesn’t matter in football. The sooner he adapts, the better, because we believe in his qualities and what he will become.”

Barcelona

• Pedri scored this fine goal but it was another nightmare result for Barcelona last night. FT Barcelona 3-5 Villarreal [Pictures from ViaPlay Sports]

• Xavi announces: “I will leave Barcelona in June. We have reached a point of no return. It’s time for change. As a Cule, I think that it's time to leave. I spoke with the board and the club today. I will leave on the 30th of June. This club needs a change of dynamic. Leaving Barca is the best decision possible for all parties involved. I’m the most responsible one, so the players will finally feel free now. Everything will be calmer now, we can compete for the Champions League… at least with this decision you [the press] won’t kill me anymore. The club will improve with this decision. You asked me many times that if I’d be the Sir Alex Ferguson of Barca...the truth is that it will NEVER happen here. You guys won’t allow it - being Barça coach is so difficult. You see how they kill you, they criticize you, it affects you.”

• Who could be next Barcelona manager? Fabrizio Romano expects some overlap with Liverpool’s candidates…

• Frenkie de Jong: “It’s our fault, players’ fault — if it doesn’t work out it’s our fault. There is complete confidence in Xavi and the staff, they are doing a good job. This can’t happen and it’s our fault.”

• Xavi: “I understand Frenkie de Jong’s words and we all being responsible, but I’m the most responsible. We made mistakes but that penalty play conditions the game. Even the fourth referee tells me that it's a clear penalty.”

• Xavi on Vitor Roque: “Let me clarify: Vitor is Barca signing, not just Deco’s signing. We all trust him. The other day he didn’t play due to a tactical decision, but he already played against Betis and he will continue to be a player who will be important to us.”

• Alejandro Balde’s season is over as injury has affected his tendon. Balde will undergo surgery in Finland with Dr Lampainen in the coming days, Barcelona confirm.

Bayer Leverkusen

• Official, confirmed. Borja Iglesias has joined Bayer Leverkusen on loan with buy option from Real Betis. The loan fee is €1.5m and it can be made permanent for €8m. He’s already agreed on a deal until June 2026 in case Bayer decide to buy him in the summer.

Bayern Munich

• Sacha Boey has signed the contract valid until 2029 as new Bayern player. “He was our absolute desired target,” club director Christoph Freund confirms.

• Freund on knee injury for Kingsley Coman: “Things aren't looking good for Kingsley. He fell on his knee. He is now having tests and we will see.”

• Thomas Tuchel: “Coman injury looks serious. We are waiting for the tests and we will know more.”

• Kingsley Coman tore the medial ligament in his knee, according to Bild. Bayern hope to have Coman back available in April, if recovery goes to plan.

Birmingham City

• Crystal Palace and Wolves are showing interest in Jordan James as a potential midfielder target. Birmingham City already rejected a bid from Atalanta earlier in this window.

Bologna

• Thiago Motta: “I heard of Xavi leaving Barca, yes — they told me this news some minutes ago…Barca links for the future? I live in the present. I’m enjoying my time at Bologna, I’m only focused on the present.”

Brighton

• What’s the latest with Roberto De Zerbi and interest from Liverpool and Barcelona? Fabrizio Romano has all the info here.

Chelsea

• What’s the latest on Conor Gallagher and Trevoh Chalobah? Fabrizio Romano has all the info here.

Hajduk Split

• Hajduk Split have agreed on deal to sign Josip Brekalo from Fiorentina after Dinamo Zagreb deal collapsed. Fixed fee for loan plus add-ons in case of league title and access to European cups. Brekalo travelled to Croatia yesterday, and his medical in Split will take place today.

Hull City

• Hull City have agreed deal to sign Dutch talented striker Noah Ohio on loan from Standard Liege. An agreement was completed yesterday, Ohio will join on loan with NO buy option clause included - back to Belgium in June. The deal is 100% done, his medical will take place early next week.

Juventus

• Dusan Vlahovic continued his fine recent form with this close-range finish last night. FT Juventus 1-1 Empoli [Pictures from TNT Sports]

• Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri asked on Moise Kean and Atletico Madrid: “In the next three days it will be clear, the board will decide”. All parties remain optimistic about making the deal happen.

Leicester City

• Leicester City will complete deal to sign Stefano Sensi between Sunday and Monday. It’s all verbally agreed with Inter, final fee will be around €2-3m.

Lyon

• Official, confirmed. Nemanja Matic has joined Olympique Lyon on a deal valid until June 2026.

Manchester United

• What’s gone wrong for Hannibal Mejbri on loan at Sevilla? Fabrizio Romano explains in his exclusive column here.

Marseille

• What a strike this was from Marseille centre-back Leonardo Balerdi! FT Marseille 2-2 Monaco [Pictures from TNT Sports]

Newcastle United

• Eddie Howe on rejecting Bayern’s for Kieran Trippier: “You see the numbers and you think that might be good value for Kieran. But when you’re in our position and you see the actual breakdown it’s not good value at all. It would have been a poor decision to accept it.”

• Howe on Miguel Almiron: “He was ill, genuinely ill. Future? I want him to stay. Miguel to leave next week? It’s difficult. I’m not in hourly contact with what’s going on, there’s a possibility someone could leave. That hasn’t changed.”

Nigeria

• A well-worked goal here for Ademola Lookman saw Nigeria beat Cameroon. FT Nigeria 2-0 Cameroon [Pictures from Sky Sports]

Nottingham Forest

• Nottingham Forest keep working on both new goalkeeper and Gio Reyna deals. Negotiations ongoing for Reyna loan move as discussions are taking place also on player side. RB Leipzig don’t want to sell Peter Gulacsi but Forest are already exploring options for a new goalkeeper.

Real Betis

• Sergi Altimira hit this superb winning goal for Real Betis away to Mallorca. FT Mallorca 0-1 Real Betis [Pictures from ViaPlay Sports]

Real Madrid

• Aurelien Tchouameni headed home this winning goal for Real Madrid. FT Las Palmas 1-2 Real Madrid [Pictures from ViaPlay Sports]

• Why zero minutes and not even a warm up for Luka Modric today? Carlo Ancelotti: “I don't want Modric to warm-up if I’m not sure that he will play. I respect him too much to do that.”

Roma

• AS Roma are have now made contact with RB Leipzig as they’re set to sign Angelino. Official contact between clubs has taken place to complete a loan deal until June with a €5m buy option clause. Formal steps to follow and then the deal will be done.

Sevilla

• Sevilla manager Quique on Hannibal Mejbri not being part of the team: “After being with him, talking to him and having seen his first minutes in Girona, we are going to give him the necessary space to understand where he is, that he is at Sevilla and what it means.”

• Fabrizio Romano with more info on the Hannibal Mejbri situation here.

• Ivan Rakitic has informed Sevilla, club and his teammates that he’s set to leave. Rakitic has accepted to join Al Shabab in Saudi. It’s just time for formal steps now - his medical has been booked and he’s expected to travel on Monday.

Sunderland

• Sunderland confirmed that Alex Pritchard “informed the Club that he was no longer available for selection and he subsequently withdrew from today’s matchday squad”. Pritchard made clear he wishes to leave the club with immediate effect.

Villarreal

• Goncalo Guedes scored with a well-taken finish as Villarreal stunned Barcelona last night. FT Barcelona 3-5 Villarreal [Pictures from ViaPlay Sports]

West Ham United

• Tomas Soucek: “Last summer I got an important proposal from Saudi but I rejected. I would rather return to Czech league! Saudi Arabia, China or USA is not for me… I am enjoying my time here at West Ham.”

• Monza CEO Adriano Galliani has played down the links with West Ham move for Valentin Carboni: “It’s not happening. Bid from West Ham? He’s staying at Monza for sure.” Inter have never received a formal proposal from West Ham for Carboni despite rumours.