Former Barcelona president Joan Laporta defended Lionel Messi against allegations of tax fraud, a case experts say could carry a prison sentence for the Argentina star.

You might think that Barcelona and Real Madrid’s Champions League semi-final first legs — with Barca at Bayern Munich tomorrow, and Madrid facing Borussia Dortmund away the following evening — were enough for both clubs to focus on for the moment.

Football dressing-rooms are often filled with squabbling and childish players, who put their own personal interests and egos ahead of the team.

Barcelona director of football Andoni Zubizarreta has denied claims by former president Joan Laporta the club could have done more to ensure Pep Guardiola continued as coach at the Nou Camp next season.

THOSE who think Johan Cruyff’s Barcelona legacy is confined to the annals of history should think again.

Outgoing Barcelona president Joan Laporta is confident Arsenal will eventually “give in” and allow midfielder Cesc Fabregas to move back to the Nou Camp.

OUTGOING Barcelona president Joan Laporta says the club’s move for Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has hit a moment of “tense calm”, but has revealed that Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure is close to sealing a transfer away from the Nou Camp.

Outgoing Barcelona president Joan Laporta says the club’s move for Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has hit a moment of “tense calm”, but has revealed that Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure is close to sealing a transfer away from the Nou Camp.

NEW Barcelona president Sandro Rosell is ready to work with the departing Joan Laporta in an effort to bring Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas to the club this summer.

New Barcelona president Sandro Rosell is ready to work with the departing Joan Laporta in an effort to bring Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas to the club this summer.

Sandro Rosell is set to become the new president of Barcelona in tomorrow’s elections at the Catalan club.

BARCELONA president Joan Laporta is still hopeful of persuading Arsenal to part with Cesc Fabregas despite having a €35 million offer for the Spain international rejected this week.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta is still hopeful of persuading Arsenal to part with Cesc Fabregas despite having a 35million offer for the Spain international rejected this week.

BARCELONA president Joan Laporta has not given up hope of signing Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas this summer.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has not given up hope of signing Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas this summer.

EDIN DZEKO’S representatives are in talks over the player possibly moving to Manchester City, it’s been claimed.

DAVID VILLA bade an emotional farewell to Valencia yesterday after the club agreed to sell the Spain striker to Barcelona for €40 million.

Barcelona appear ready to make a £40m bid for Cesc Fabregas, but Arsenal are set to fight to hold on to their captain.

CESC FABREGAS’ Arsenal career looked to be over last night amid claims the midfielder has told Gunners manager Arsene Wenger he wants to leave the north London side to rejoin Barcelona.

Barcelona have opened talks with Valencia over striker David Villa and are pondering stepping up their pursuit of Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta insists the newly-crowned Club World Cup champions will not be making a renewed bid to sign Robinho after revealing Manchester City rejected their initial offer.

Rafael Marquez has signed a new contract to keep him at Barcelona until June 2012.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has revealed that he rejected an attempt from Inter Milan to buy Lionel Messi this summer.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has identified his club’s pursuit of Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas as a “special case”.

BARCELONA last night confirmed they have agreed a deal for the Inter Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with Samuel Eto’o travelling in the opposite direction.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta claims to have come to a complete agreement with Inter Milan over a swap deal involving Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Samuel Eto’o.

Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland admits manager Mark Hughes’ summer recruitment drive has increased the pressure on existing members of the squad.

MANCHESTER CITY have made a staggering offer to Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o which would make the Cameroon international the highest-paid player in Britain.

Samuel Eto’o could be on his way to Manchester City after Barcelona president Joan Laporta revealed the Barclays Premier League club had made the striker a “stratospheric offer”.

Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has slapped a staggering €90m price tag on coveted Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

FLORENTINO PEREZ isn’t afraid to spend.

BARCELONA president Joan Laporta has lashed out at Real Madrid and lambasted his counterpart Florentino Perez for “distorting” the transfer market after the €65 million world-record signing of Kaka from AC Milan.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has lashed out at Real Madrid and lambasted his counterpart Florentino Perez for “distorting” the transfer market.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta wants to keep Samuel Eto’o at the Nou Camp but expects to receive some tempting offers for the Cameroon striker this summer.

BARCELONA’S players have rounded on what they deemed a negative and cynical Chelsea side following the 0-0 draw in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.

Barcelona’s players rounded on what they deemed a negative and cynical Chelsea side following the teams’ 0-0 draw in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final last night.

Manchester City are anxious that their contact-building meeting with Barcelona president Joan Laporta should not be viewed as the first step towards a move for Samuel Eto’o.

AC Milan are closing in on the signature of Barcelona forward Ronaldinho, according to the Serie A club’s lawyer.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has confirmed both AC Milan and Manchester City have made bids for Ronaldinho.

AC Milan scout Ernesto Bronzetti believes the Rossoneri have a “50% chance” of signing Arsenal forward Emmanuel Adebayor, but claims the London club intend to sell to Barcelona.

Chelsea have given AC Milan permission to talk to Didier Drogba but remain unwilling to part with former Rossoneri forward Andrei Shevchenko, the Milan vice president Adriano Galliani has claimed.

Premier League clubs will be on high alert after Barcelona president Joan Laporta admitted both Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o could be on their way out of the Nou Camp.

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard will be replaced by Josep Guardiola at the end of the season, club president Joan Laporta has revealed.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta believes his side are better than Manchester United and is confident the Catalan giants will advance to next month’s Champions League final in Moscow.