Barcelona’s reaction to the news that it had been banned from making transfers by Fifa has shown yet again that the Camp Nou club’s directors operate at a level well below that of its football team.

Breaking into the centre of Spain’s midfield has lately been about as easy as breaking out of Alcatraz.

Everton 4 Stoke 0

There may be an arctic chill on the banks of the River Mersey this morning but, make no mistake, beneath its waters a cauldron is bubbling.

Liverpool’s preparations for this weekend’s Merseyside derby have suffered a blow after defender Jose Enrique was ruled out with a long-term knee injury which is likely to require surgery.

Having been rejected once for being too small, Clare’s Podge Collins made one vow — if he wasn’t going to catch ball above lads’ heads, he wasn’t going to get pushed off it either. The season he doesn’t want to end takes another twist today with Cratloe in a Clare football final.

Barcelona not only have the greatest player football’s ever seen; they’re the template for the game’s future, right down to its acclaimed La Masia academy. Grant Wahl was granted unprecedented access to the men who made Messi.

Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova is refusing to declare the Primera Division title race over, despite his side’s blistering form.

We’ve had the Busby Babes, Coad’s Colts and Fergie’s Fledglings so is it time now to start talking of Rodgers’ Toddlers?

This time last year, few Spanish fans or pundits could say with certainty who would be playing left-back for La Roja at Euro 2012.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola today announced he would be standing down at the end of the season to “recharge his batteries” with his assistant Tito Vilanova confirmed as his replacement.

Barcelona have called a press conference for this lunchtime at which Pep Guardiola is expected to announce he will leave the club at the end of the season.

For the guts of an hour or so there on Tuesday night, we were all Gooners — all, at least, bar the supporters of AC Milan and, I presume, Spurs.

Thursday night football may be second-best but there is a lot to anticipate from the tie between Manchester United and Athletic Bilbao.

SEVEN graduates of Barcelona’s famous La Masia youth academy are likely to line out tonight against Manchester United at Wembley — an incredible achievement in an era of big-money transfers.

XAVI HERNANDEZ, the world’s finest midfielder, remembers the advice he received when, aged 10, he made a first tentative journey to La Masia, the 18th century farmhouse in the shadow of the Camp Nou where FC Barcelona school their kids.

BARCELONA star Lionel Messi is confident Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas will complete his return to the Nou Camp.

Barcelona winger Lionel Messi is confident Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas will complete his return to the Nou Camp.