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13,200 watch FC Barcelona train in the Miniestadi | FC Barcelona
In Catalonia, these include all the usual carol singing, decorated trees and family gatherings, plus other traditions more unique to the region, such as the three kings bringing gifts, the smashing open of an anthropomorphized log called the ‘caga tió’ and perhaps the most bizarre of all, a defecating figurine called the ‘caganer’, who candidly goes about his business in the background of nativity scenes.
Messi's hat-trick at open-doors training session | FC Barcelona
Lionel Messi, who scored a hat-trick in the practice match, was one of the main attractions of a session watched by an astonishing 13,200 spectators in the Miniestadi. The goals in that game were celebrated by the fans as if they had been scored in an official game, with Messi showing that he has returned in fine shape from Argentina by scoring three goals for his team.
Busy start to 2014 at FC Barcelona | FC Barcelona
The Christmas break is over, and the next few weeks are going to a busy time for the FC Barcelona players. If they make it through the next two rounds of the Copa del Rey, they’ll be playing 15 games in January and February. In other words, seven straight weeks with a game every three days.
FC Barcelona Museum expects its 25 millionth visitor on Saturday | FC Barcelona
The FC Barcelona Museum expects to welcome its 25,000,000th visitor this Saturday. Inaugurated in 1984, the FC Barcelona Museum President Núñez is close to reaching this historic mark. This Friday the Museum welcomed its 24,998,651st visitor and it’s expected that the institution will see its 25 millionth visitor on Saturday.
Where false idols are concerned, origins can be irrelevant by Sid Lowe - ESPN FC
Just before Christmas, he announced that he had received an offer to buy the club from the Singaporean billionaire Peter Lim. According to Salvo, the offer was amongst the "two or three biggest" in the history of football. He continued: Lim would take responsibility for the club’s debt, which stands at a total of 354 million euros, he would finally finish the construction of the club’s new stadium, on which work has long since ground to a halt, and he would spend up to 40 million euros on players, immediately.
Bale back in Real training after calf injury - Yahoo Eurosport UK
The Wales winger, who became the world's most expensive player when Real bought him from Tottenham Hotspur in the close season, injured the calf last month and missed Real's final match before the Christmas break, a 3-2 victory at Valencia. He did not feature in Thursday's 1-0 friendly win over Paris St Germain in Doha but was back in training with the rest of the squad in the Spanish capital on Friday along with Portugal full back Fabio Coentrao, who has been out since November, Real said on their website (www.realmadrid.com).
Manchester United send delegation to negotiate for Koke - Goal.com
Having identified the 21-year-old as a player capable of adding much needed creativity to his side, Moyes, keen to play a far greater role in United’s transfer dealings this winter, has dispatched three of the club's transfer brokers to Spain with a view to securing the latest gem off the Spanish production line.
