Barcelona have been known for playing beautiful football during their glory days. The start of the 2010s saw the Blaugrana reach their peak footballing years, with some of the best La Masia graduates taking control of the first team and dominating the world.
However, times have changed at Camp Nou, and so has the club itself. Former FC Barcelona director Javier Bordas spoke to Mundo Deportivo at length regarding transfer targets, and why they chose Ousmane Dembele over Kylian Mbappe, although they could have signed the latter for €100 million.
Bordas Pushed for Haaland, Courtois and Morata
Bordas revealed that there was a chance of signing both Thibaut Courtois AND Marc Andre Ter-Stegen. However, Claudio Bravo ultimately ended up joining Barcelona and subsequently, Ter-Stegen was brought in between the sticks as the undisputed number 1.
Morata, on the other hand, caused monetary angles to be considered by Barcelona. Then President Josep Maria Bartomeu agreed with Bordas regarding having Morata as a replacement for Suarez, but he ended up joining Atletico from Chelsea.
Barcelona Could’ve Signed Mbappe to Replace Neymar
Bordas also revealed that the Blaugrana had the chance to sign Kylian Mbappe for €100 million. However, under the advice of Robert Fernandez, they chose to sign Ousmane Dembele from Borussia Dortmund instead.
Paris Saint-Germain ultimately ended up signing Mbappe, but Monaco’s President told Bordas that a move to Barcelona was much more favourable since there was lesser competition, and also that they didn’t want to strengthen a direct rival in PSG.
At the time, Madrid had Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema and Gareth Bale leading the front three, and it would cause Mbappe to be relegated to the bench.
However, Robert Fernandez preferred a ‘winger’ like Ousmane Dembele, who would play for the team. And not a ‘finisher’ like Mbappe, who, according to the technical secretary, plays for himself.
Considering how Ousmane Dembele’s tenure at Barcelona has played out, a move for Kylian Mbappe would have been much more rewarding in hindsight.
There have been lots of players to play for both teams involved in Der Klassiker. Mario Gotze is one of those privileged enough to have played for two of the biggest clubs in Germany and to have lifted silverware with both of them.
Gotze’s biggest moment as a footballer was in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Final, where his goal against Argentina brought the trophy to Deutschland. However, the attacking midfielder has since failed to build on that high.
The German came through the ranks at Ronsberg and Hombrucher before moving to Borussia Dortmund’s youth academy in the summer of 2001. He then broke into the first team as a teenager in the 2010/11 season and helped Dortmund win the Bundesliga, as well as the DFB Pokal a year later.
Gotze almost got his hands on a Champions League trophy, facing future employers Bayern Munich in the final of the esteemed competition, but ultimately fell short of the mark.
His move to Bavaria went through in 2013, and Gotze has now admitted that he should have taken some more time to develop at Dortmund before moving to a superclub like Bayern at the age of 21.
Here is what the player had to say, reflecting on his transfer to Bayern in 2013, speaking to ZDF Sportstudio:
“I was just 21 at the time and I arrived in a situation where Bayern had just won the treble. I’d learned so much in Dortmund before then.”
“In hindsight, maybe I should’ve taken more time for my development, which is something you just don’t get in Munich.”
Mario Gotze moved back to Dortmund in 2016, but could not find the spark that he once had at the Westfalenstadion. He was released earlier this year and joined PSV Eindhoven for free.
In the Eredivisie and Europa League, Gotze has managed to score three goals from six appearances for his new club.
Amazfit has just released it’s GTS 2 and GTR 2 in the last month, and now it is assumed that the GTS 2e and GTR 2e will be launched very soon. In a listing of FCC, the two new products of Huami are spotted. It seems like Huami will follow the same design as the GTS 2 and GTR 2.
There are no details of the specifications, but from the leaks we came to know, this model will feature WiFi connectivity. In the list, there is shown a model number. For GTS 2e it is A2021, and for GTR 2e it is A2023.
GTS 2 and GTR 2 were launched in October and November. These previous models featured an AMOLED display, and both were sweat proof. But there is a chance that we could see a sportier look in the upcoming GTR 2e and GTS 2e. On the other hand, Amazfit GTS 2e/GTR 2e might support some extra connectivity. The display of the GTS 2e is rectangular shaped, whereas the display of the GTR 2e is more circular.
A rumour says that Huami is going to launch the new GTS 2 Mini. This year Huami has already launched several smartwatches, and we know, the company is coming with a Zepp Z smartwatch soon. Also, it is yet to be seen that if the Amazfit Bip U can replace the Bip S in the Western countries or not.
Keep ready your wrist to wear the new Amazfit smartwatch.
Oppo has already shared a few patent images regarding its upcoming foldable smartphones. Now, the company has come out with some of the design patents for its upcoming smartphone, which shows that it will feature an expandable display. Let’s try to break down those images from Oppo.
This upcoming smartphone is expected to be launched by Oppo in the next year. The main attraction of this phone will be the expandable display, and if we look closely, we can find a certain similarity between this and LG’s upcoming rollable smartphone (to be launched on the next year’s Explorer Project).
As per the front design what we’ve found in the images, there is not any notch or punch-hole at the front. So, we can expect an under-display selfie camera in this case. The sides of this phone are meant to be a little bit curved or rounded you can say, but no buttons are there. In terms of the rear camera, there is only a single one.
Now let’s talk about the design of it. The design looks to be quite unique and the display will be expandable as well. The user can pull the display of the smartphone upwards to expand it. So, if the user wants it to be bigger, it is possible to be extended by pulling it upwards. Regarding this expandable feature, this smartphone has quite a bit similarity with the Galaxy Z Flip and the Motorola Razr. Oppo has not confirmed anything yet, but we can expect this smartphone to be showcased by the company at the Oppo Inno Day event of 2020 on November 17.
Alongside the premium flagship segment, OnePlus is also getting attentive to its affordable mid-range smartphones. One of those affordable smartphones of OnePlus is the OnePlus Nord N10. It is one of the best pocket-friendly 5G phones in the market right now. So, today we will do a full brief comparison among the three affordable mid-rangers of the smartphone world: OnePlus Nord N10 5G vs Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G vs Samsung Galaxy A51 5G. In order to differentiate these three devices in terms of their specifications, this comparison is done. The main motive of this comparison is to help buyers choose the correct option. So, let’s check out which of them is more worthy.
Design:
In terms of design, Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite has a center-placed rectangular rear camera module guarded by a circular boundary. It has a punch-hole camera at the upper-middle of the main display. The rear camera modules of the OnePlus N10 and Galaxy A51 look quite similar to each other. Both of them have a punch-hole selfie camera. In terms of the fingerprint scanner, the OnePlus N10 (features polycarbonate rear panel) has a rear-mounted physical one. On the other hand, Xiaomi 10T Lite has a side-mounted scanner and the Galaxy A51 5G has an in-display fingerprint scanner.
Display:
In terms of display, Samsung always gets an upper hand for its super AMOLED display. That’s why Samsung Galaxy A51 5G sports a brilliant super AMOLED 6.5 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+) display.
Samsung Galaxy A51 5G
But if you are a person who prefers a higher refresh rate, then you should go for the Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite as it features a 6.67 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), IPS LCD display with the support of a 120Hz refresh rate.
Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite
On the other hand, the OnePlus Nord N10 features a normal 6.49 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+) display with a refresh rate of 90Hz.
OnePlus Nord N10 5G
Camera:
Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G has a quad rear camera setup which includes a primary sensor of 64MP (f/1.9), an 8MP ultra-wide sensor (f/2.2), a 2MP macro (f/), and a 2MP depth (f/) sensor. For the selfies, this phone has a 16MP (f/) selfie snapper at the front.
OnePlus Nord N10 5G has a quad rear camera setup which includes a primary sensor of 64MP (f/1.8), an 8MP ultra-wide sensor (f/2.3), a 2MP macro (f/2.4), and a 5MP depth (f/2.4) sensor. For the selfies, this phone has a 16MP (f/2.1) selfie snapper at the front.
Samsung Galaxy A51 5G has a quad rear camera setup which includes a primary sensor of 48MP (f/2.0), a 12MP ultra-wide sensor (f/2.2), a 5MP macro (f/2.4), and a 5MP depth (f/2.2) sensor. For the selfies, this phone has a 32MP (f/2.2) selfie snapper at the front.
Processor:
Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G (2.2GHz) chipset.
OnePlus Nord N10 5G is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 (2GHz) chipset.
Samsung Galaxy A51 5G is powered by an octa-core Exynox 980 (2.2GHz) chipset.
So, in terms of the processor, Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite definitely has an upper hand over the other two 5G smartphones.
UI and Storage:
Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G runs the MIUI, based on the Android 10 OS which is coupled with 6GB/8GB of RAM and 64GB/128GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD card).
OnePlus Nord N10 5G runs the Oxygen OS, based on the Android 10 OS which is coupled with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD card).
Samsung Galaxy A51 5G runs One UI, based on the Android 10 OS which is coupled with 6GB/8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD card).
Battery& connectivity:
Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G is fueled up by a 4,820mAH battery with the support of 33W fast charging. In terms of connectivity, this phone supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth, GPS, dual SIM with 5G.
OnePlus Nord N10 5G is fueled up by a 4,300mAH battery with the support of 30W fast charging. In terms of connectivity, this phone supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS, dual SIM with 5G.
Samsung Galaxy A51 5G is fueled up by a 4,500mAH battery with the support of 15W fast charging. In terms of connectivity, this phone supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, dual SIM with 5G.
Price Details& dimensions:
Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite: $328.00 for the base variant. This phone measures 165.4 x 76.8 x 9 mm and weighs around 214.5 grams.
OnePlus Nord N10: GBP 329 (roughly Rs. 32,000) for its 6GB/128GB variant. This phone measures 163 x 74.7 x 9 mm and weighs around 190 grams.
Samsung Galaxy A51 5G: Rs 38,999 for its 8GB/128GB variant. This phone measures 158.9 x 73.6 x 8.7 mm and weighs around 187 grams.
OnePlus 9 series is coming on March next year and the leaks are flashing for the few weeks just after the launch of the OnePlus Nord N10 and N100. These leaks are now surfacing quite often where we can see a CAD render of the upcoming OnePlus 9. From the image shared by 91mobiles we can see a triple-rear camera setup and a white back panel. The phone seems to have a punch-hole camera cut on the top left corner of the display.
This render is not very much detailed and less information has been confirmed regarding the design of the phone. But the two big camera lens kind of reminds of the iPhone 12 back camera module design.
As per a recent report, we’ve just come to know that the OnePlus 9 series will not include the third model. That means, there will be only two models in the upcoming OnePlus 9 series. It is expected that OnePlus will launch one regular variant OnePlus 9 and one Pro variant OnePlus 9 Pro. Both of them are likely to make the debut in the middle of March 2021. The third model that was expected before is said to be the OnePlus 9 Ultra or OnePlus 9T. In terms of model numbers, tipsters have claimed that the OnePlus 9 will be available with model numbers: LE2110, LE2117, and LE2119 whereas the OnePlus 9 Pro will be available with model numbers: LE2120 and LE2127.
This series is expected to be powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 875 SoC chipset. Regarding the display, it is assumed to feature 144Hz of refresh rate. The charging should also have some improvement in this series, like in terms of wired and wireless charging.
Gareth Bale had not played a minute of club football while at Madrid for the back half of the 19/20 season. However, that has changed with his move to Tottenham in the summer.
Bale is on the verge of being fully fit to play 90 minutes, according to manager Jose Mourinho. To make things even better, the Welshman has found his love for the game again, according to Wales manager Robert Page.
He is now in charge of the Wales national team after Ryan Giggs mutually agreed to not take charge of the team following an incident involving the Manchester Police.
This is what the new boss had to say about the revival of the former Real Madrid star:
“He looks to me like he’s enjoying his football.”
“He loves coming away with Wales. He absolutely loves it. As long as I’ve been involved he’s never missed a camp, other than the recent one [in October] through injury.”
“He’s first through the doors, loves being part of it and he has a spring in his step when he comes on camp – and that’s exactly what I’ve seen in the past couple of days.”
“Now being at a place like Tottenham, he has a manager [Jose Mourinho] who wants him there and wants him to play week in, week out – or they are building him up to that where he plays 90 minutes consistently.”
“We’ve now got a player on our hands that has fallen back in love with the game and is enjoying his football. Hopefully we will reap the rewards of that as well.”
“The older you get, you do lose a little bit of sharpness. I experienced that myself as a player. I have not seen any evidence of that in the last two days of training,” Page said of Bale.
“Some of the things I saw yesterday [Friday] was the other way. He’s looking just as sharp, bright and powerful.
“He’s in great shape and some of the things he did in training yesterday you took a step back. It was great to watch.”
Bale is expected to play for the national team against the Republic of Ireland and Finland in Wales’s upcoming fixtures.
Spain, in their UEFA Nations League match last night against Switzerland, had a chance to put at least 3-4 goals past the hosts. However, Yann Sommer was a wall between the sticks as he denied Sergio Ramos not one, but two penalties on the night.
This sees the Swiss keeper break Ramos’ record of converting 25 consecutive penalties for both club and country.
Sergio Ramos missed 2 penalties for Spain today. 😳😳 that second penalty was very poor tbh. Great reading by the Goalkeeper Yan Sommer. pic.twitter.com/z3wmjLYR8e
The first penalty was won following a handball decision that went in the favour of the visitors following the ball striking the arm of Ricardo Rodriguez.
Sergio Ramos, the designated penalty taker, was entrusted with the responsibility of converting from 12 yards out, but a weak effort to the left-hand side of the net was well-read by Sommer as he dived to push the ball out for a corner to break Ramos’ streak.
The second penalty was given to the Spaniards after Nico Elvedi brought down Alvaro Morata in the box, which saw the Borussia Mönchengladbach defender sent off with 10 minutes left on the clock.
Ramos took another cheeky run-up, followed by a Panenka attempt that, as aptly described by the Daily Mail, “will leave Fulham star Ademola Lookman affording himself a sigh of relief.”
Ramos has been a long practitioner of the Panenka technique for penalties, and has been very successful using it. But it was just not his day, on his 177th appearance for Spain.
The match against Switzerland sees Sergio Ramos become the most capped player in Europe, overtaking Gigi Buffon’s record of 176. The 34-year-old still has a lot left in the tank and should not be judged following his penalty misses last night.
Spain manager Luis Enrique’s comments on the issue also go a long way in reaffirming confidence in his team’s captain, saying that if there were one, Ramos would have taken the third penalty as well.
The idea of a potential 9th franchise being added to the Indian Premier League (IPL) is gaining some serious steam. Some heavyweights of various industries are eyeing the ownership of the 9th team.
The planning for IPL 2021 has already started. The Board of Cricket Control of India (BCCI) will have to conduct the IPL 2021 roughly four months from now on. However, a significant decision, which can make the tournament even more interesting, is yet to be made. BCCI is planning to potentially add an extra 9th team.
What started as a vague idea has quickly turned into something substantial as some huge names are targeting the ownership.
The front runners to battle for the ownership
Firstly, one thing is certain now that Ahmedabad city will be included in the IPL roster before anyone else. The names of Lucknow / Kanpur or Pune will only come for discussion if the BCCI decides to increase more than 1 team for IPL 2021 or IPL 2022.
According to reports, Adani Group owned by Gautam Adani and RPSG owned by Sanjeev Goenka will be the biggest contenders for the 9th IPL team. Adani has always shown keen interest in owning the IPL team. Goenka, on the other hand, has already been the owner of the IPL franchise Rising Pune Supergiants for two years.
Other than Adani and Goenka, South India’s top actor Mohanlal along with one of the business house based out of Southern India have also shown interest in owning the IPL team. The names of the Tata group, Uday Kotak, and Ronnie Screwwala have also been associated with ownership.
The first and really positive indication coming from the BCCI camp is that a full auction will be conducted for the IPL 2021. The auction will be conducted either at the end of December or the first week of January. Reportedly, the BCCI has informally discussed the matter with franchises as well. The final decision will be taken in the next 2-3 weeks according to a BCCI official.
It will be interesting to see a full auction as teams like Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals, and Kings XI Punjab would look to build a new skeleton for their team. It will also be beneficial for talented Indian players who have been toiling in the domestic circuit or working under the watchful eye of Rahul Dravid.
The City Football Group has become an important footballing organisation over the years. Headed by their main club Manchester City, they have over the years expanded to different countries and seen build a pool talent for all clubs to benefit in their portfolio.
But, their most crucial transfer might be yet to come in the form of Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, who is out of contract for next season. That would make him eligible for a Bosman free transfer with the power to negotiate with other clubs from January 1 2021.
There was actually a willingness from Lionel Messi to exit last summer itself, but only a legal threat from Josep Bartomeu stopped the club legend from leaving the club he has played for over two decades.
Messi is still waiting to see how the presidential elections for the club’s next supremo plan out, and if the new president can convince him about the club’s future sporting project and evolutionary tactics in the transfer market.
But on the other hand, EPL club Manchester City are planning to lineup a bumper contract offer which will see Messi spend a few seasons in England before eventually making himself home with New York City in the MLS.
Rumors also suggest that the salary might be on par terms with what he is currently earning at Barcelona, plus an ownership stake in the American club which will see him rake in enough money even after his playing days are over.
The 33-year-old mercurial forward is currently on form with Barcelona who are eighth in La Liga as it stands. Messi has so far scored 6 goals in 10 games across the UEFA Champions League and La Liga. But if he does move to Manchester City on a free transfer even if it is for a few seasons. the Citizens would definitely have pulled off a big coup.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/30421541/escudo.0.jpg "Manchester City hope to entice Lionel Messi with a multi-dimensional contract including a move to New York City FC 20")
